The fear of being judged is a tangible and persistent anxiety that affects many people. This type of distress may develop into a mental health condition known as social anxiety disorder or social phobia.
But why do so many of us fear that others will judge us, and how do we circumvent this trait to live with confidence?
Reasons for our fear of judgment
There are multiple types of anxiety disorders. Some are reasonably mild and manageable, while others are disabling.
Most of these cases stem from disturbed thinking. This means that it takes work on yourself and your internal thought processes to change this trend.
No external factor will change your emotional health or affect your mind as much as it could.
Some of the most common reasons for experiencing this type of fear of judgment are:
We all want to be highly regarded in any social scenario.
We suffer from imposter syndrome and believe we will be “found out” if people judge us.
We lack confidence, self-esteem and clear, positive thinking.
We feel inferior to others, or that we are not performing well.
We have deep-rooted fears that we think others can see.
Often, if you regularly fear being judged, you may encourage many of the thought processes mentioned above.
What’s the difference between a “normal” fear of being judged and social anxiety?
If you feel a low-level sense of fear about entering a room full of people or wanting to make a good impression in a job interview, this is not necessarily a sign of social phobia.
It’s normal to feel nervous in some scenarios, which often depends on the likely outcome of the situation. Most people tend to feel afraid of being judged in certain social situations. In this case, the “normal” aspect of this fear is present in mentally healthy individuals and stems from our innate need to be accepted by other human beings.
However, you may be suffering from social anxiety if any of the following symptoms occur regularly, especially when you meet people you know or go somewhere that is part of your routine:
Suffering from sweaty hands, nausea, or rapid heartbeat.
Feeling like your mind has gone blank and you are unable to speak.
Trying to hide, speak quietly, and remain unnoticed as much as possible.
Feeling extremely embarrassed in the company.
Avoid social interactions and situations completely.
Working on nerve management techniques can help in some cases. However, if you find yourself avoiding social events, doing your best not to have to talk to people, or minimizing your interactions with others, it could be more serious.
8 Signs that fear of judgment is ruining your life
Suppose you realize that social phobia is having a detrimental effect on your life. In this case, it is necessary to seek professional support, or at least start a dialogue to learn about your concerns so you can begin to address them.
Signs that this fear of judgment is harming your life include:
Avoid going to events, even those you want to attend, because of your fear of mixing with people.
Instead, you try to convince yourself that you don’t want to leave the house to avoid the internal debate about choosing not to attend.
If you cut your hair, buy new clothes, or change your appearance, you feel afraid to leave the house for fear of being judged.
You assume that people don’t want to be your friends and feel excluded from social situations.
Your dating life is non-existent, and you lack the confidence to even think about finding a partner or mingling with single people.
In your head, you firmly believe that everyone you know — from colleagues to family members — looks down on you.
You’re convinced that strangers are staring at you and that complaining people are whispering about you.
Social media is a source of intense anxiety, and you feel pressured to edit anything you post so that it is seen as “flawless.”
The problem with any of these symptoms is that they will not go away on their own.
Isolating yourself from the world, avoiding any situation that makes you feel uncomfortable, and trying to overcome persistent feelings of anxiety will severely impact your life chances and mental health.
Ways to overcome social fears
If you’re worried that the fear of being judged is hurting your life, now is the time to act.
Everyone has good points and bad points, things they are proud of and things they are not.
If you focus only on the negatives, you need to address your thinking patterns to stop dwelling on the “negative aspects” and appreciate the positive qualities you bring to the world.
Some options for dealing with your fear of judgment include:
Relaxation techniques to calm your nerves and enable you to accept invitations, attend events, and connect with other people.
Seek professional counseling or therapy to deal with the underlying causes of your fears and create coping mechanisms.
Seek medical support to treat anxiety that has a severe impact, especially if you have a history of depression or another mental health condition.
Avoid people who you know are loudly dismissive or cruel to others – being in negative surroundings will only exacerbate your fears.
Talk to your friends, family and colleagues to try to explain the fears you are experiencing. Many others may share similar experiences and can gain an understanding of why participating in conversations is sometimes difficult.
Join support groups to meet people with similar social concerns.
No one should spend their life feeling afraid. Thus, if you think your fear of being judged is getting worse or developing into social phobia, you need to take action to start taking back control of your life.
