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Experiencing social anxiety around family is more common than you may think. Loved ones sometimes aren’t shy about asking you too many questions or meddling in your personal life. You may even have family members who are disrespectful or rude.
Selective mutism is a severe anxiety disorder where a person is unable to speak in certain social situations, such as with classmates at school or to relatives they do not see very often. It usually starts during childhood and, if left untreated, can persist into adulthood.
Is it bad to have social anxiety?
Left untreated, social anxiety disorder can control your life. Anxieties can interfere with work, school, relationships or enjoyment of life. This disorder can cause: Low self-esteem.
Can you have social anxiety with family members?
And while you might think that those with social anxiety are generally averse to parties or mingling with people that they don’t know well, social anxiety can also happen with family members.
Social anxiety disorder sometimes runs in families, but no one knows for sure why some family members have it while others don’t. Researchers have found that several parts of the brain are involved in fear and anxiety. Some researchers think that misreading of others’ behavior may play a role in causing or worsening social anxiety.
Why am I scared of being around my family?
It’s a way of getting a feeling of independence. In psychology, this process is called individuation, and it’s actually a healthy thing to do.) So you may be nervous and feel less confident around your family or relatives because you’re afraid of losing control.
Why does family time make my anxiety worse?
There are reasons that family time can exacerbate anxiety. There are also things that can be done to minimize anxiety during these times. Family gatherings happen year-round, causing misery to many anxiety sufferers. A particularly bothersome time for people in a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds is the holiday season.