The Social Anxiety Club Episode 7: Where Does Social Anxiety Come From?
Apr 5, 2025
Dive into the origins of social anxiety, exploring school experiences, bullying, and the impact of humiliation. Discover the biological roots, including genetic predispositions and brain differences. Learn about neuroplasticity and the exciting potential for retraining anxiety responses. Hear personal stories of classroom trauma and the lasting effects of public shaming. From coping strategies to understanding the complexities of childhood experiences, this discussion offers hope and insights for managing social anxiety.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Biology Shapes Reactivity But Can Change
- Social anxiety has a biological basis: genetics, enlarged amygdala and higher stress hormones often contribute to heightened reactivity.
- Neuroplasticity means the brain can be retrained even if predisposed to higher anxiety.
Anxiety As An Evolutionary Edge
- Evolution may explain anxiety: heightened vigilance could have helped as sentinels in tribal settings.
- That sensitivity can be useful (detecting subtle threats) even if it feels debilitating now.
School As The Triggering Catalyst
- Claire describes school as the major catalyst that created maladaptive stories and chronic hypervigilance in social situations.
- She links repeated humiliation and overstimulation at school to lifelong avoidance patterns.