Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan explains that social phobia typically begins in childhood and intensifies during adolescence. “One of the most common reasons for a decline in academic performance among intelligent adolescents is social anxiety disorder,” he stated.
“Individuals with social phobia perceive themselves as less valuable than they actually are. This leads to low self-esteem, fearfulness, and a predisposition to depression,” added Prof. Tarhan. He noted that, culturally, Turkish society tends to reinforce behaviors that support social phobia.
Prof. Tarhan also pointed out that social media exacerbates social phobia:“Nowadays, children grow up constantly watching screens. But a child who is always watching becomes someone who simply observes life rather than actively participating. They grow into passive individuals prone to social withdrawal. If we want to raise individuals who question and produce rather than merely consume, we must allow children the right to make mistakes and limit their screen time.”
President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan Evaluated Social Phobia.
Social anxiety and social phobia are different concepts
Prof. Tarhan emphasized the distinction between social anxiety and social phobia: “People with social phobia experience shyness and embarrassment more intensely. This negatively affects both their professional life and daily functioning, hindering their personal development. Social phobia impairs one’s entire performance and prevents them from utilizing their intelligence and talents. Therefore, social anxiety and social phobia are different concepts. In our culture, especially in Eastern traditions and Anatolian society, shyness is glorified, which can be viewed as a form of social anxiety. As a result, individuals tend to be reserved, avoid risks, and remain silent. These behaviors should not be mistaken for social phobia, as they are learned behaviors. However, for a student with true social phobia, being called to the board in class becomes torture. They freeze during oral exams, tremble, can’t breathe, turn red, and become speechless, even unable to express what they know. This condition significantly undermines the individual's success and performance.”
Avoidant individuals often end up alone against their will
Prof. Tarhan also discussed avoidant personality, as defined in the literature: “These individuals often find themselves alone despite not wanting to be. Unintentionally, they push themselves into isolation. They are introverted. Though schizoid personalities are also introverted, they enjoy solitude, whereas avoidant individuals do not. Those with avoidant personalities cannot overcome social shyness. They experience a kind of ‘social paralysis’, which is being unable to advance or take initiative. When entering a crowded space, they feel as though everyone is staring at them. They constantly believe they are the center of attention. In a group setting, they might think everyone is watching them and choose to sit quietly in a corner. Avoidance behavior is very common in such individuals.”
36% of people aged 16–29 experience social anxiety
According to research cited by Prof. Tarhan, 36% of individuals between the ages of 16 and 29 globally experience social anxiety. “This is a very high rate,” he noted. “Overall, about 8% of the global population experiences social phobia at some point in their lives. Interestingly, social anxiety is more prevalent in developed societies and less common in underdeveloped ones. In developing societies, especially those driven by global capitalist competition, social anxiety is more acutely felt. Assertive, risk-taking, self-confident individuals achieve success, while those who cannot meet these demands feel inadequate. The thought of ‘I have to do this, but I can’t’ increases social anxiety. Someone who marries the girl next door, takes over the family business, or remains in a village environment has limited social expectations. As a result, social anxiety is less pronounced in such contexts. Individuals with social anxiety are always seeking safety. They constantly ask themselves, ‘Am I safe? Will I make a mistake?’ Their greatest fears are making errors, feeling embarrassed, or being humiliated. These fears further reinforce avoidance behaviors. Most of these individuals are perfectionists. They want everything to be flawless, but end up doing nothing because they think, ‘I can't do it perfectly.’”
People with social phobia feel less anxious in safe environments
Prof. Tarhan noted that some children may act aggressively at home but exhibit the opposite behavior outside: “A child who is aggressive towards their parents at home may be quiet and compliant outside. Individuals with social phobia feel less anxiety in environments where they feel safe but become withdrawn, introverted, and anxious in the outside world. They behave shyly around authority figures and have difficulty speaking in front of crowds.”
Humor can be an effective coping strategy for social anxiety
Prof. Tarhan emphasized that humor is an effective technique for reducing anxiety in socially phobic individuals. “Additionally, developing tolerance to anxiety is essential. This is a key focus in therapy. Those with social anxiety often experience ‘anticipatory anxiety’, that is, fear experienced before the event even takes place. They imagine scenarios in advance, feel overwhelmed, and thus display avoidance behaviors. They shy away from crowds, hesitate to engage in public spaces, and avoid authority figures. In such cases, physical symptoms like hand tremors or shortness of breath may also arise.
Some people become even more anxious in the presence of emotionless or stern authority figures. Individuals with social anxiety tend to avoid those who do not offer emotional comfort. In this regard, leadership style plays a crucial role. True leadership does not rely on authoritarianism or scolding, but on reading emotions, building trust, and offering guidance accordingly. In systems governed by fear, it is nearly impossible to alleviate social anxiety. However, in leadership grounded in trust, even a smile or a bit of positive feedback from the leader can help the individual feel at ease.”
Social phobia peaks during adolescence
Explaining that social phobia usually begins in childhood and peaks during adolescence, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated: “One of the most common reasons for a decline in academic performance among intelligent adolescents is social anxiety disorder. Individuals with social phobia typically have faulty automatic thoughts. In therapy, these faulty thought patterns are examined and analyzed in detail. Once individuals become aware of these thoughts and realize they are not realistic, they are better able to manage their negative thinking.
A person with social anxiety might say: ‘I don’t deserve love,’ ‘I’m a bad person,’ ‘I’m awful,’ ‘I’m not good enough,’ ‘I can’t trust myself,’ ‘I’m weak,’ or ‘I’m a failure.’ Such individuals often perceive themselves in persistently negative ways. Everyone has a self-concept. If someone sees themselves as more important than they actually are, narcissistic personality traits may appear. However, individuals with social phobia tend to view themselves as less worthy than they really are. This leads to low self-esteem, timidity, and a vulnerability to depression.”
Some individuals try to suppress anxiety through alcohol use
Prof. Tarhan pointed out that some people develop coping mechanisms to mask their social anxiety: “Some attempt to suppress this anxiety by using alcohol. While alcohol may provide temporary relief, it can lead to addiction in the long term. Individuals with social phobia may begin drinking in order to cope with public speaking or social interaction. Over time, this habit can become a dependency. Therefore, social phobia can be a significant underlying factor in alcohol addiction.”
People living with social phobia can still maintain routine responsibilities
Prof. Tarhan emphasized that as long as the condition does not progress to a psychotic level, individuals with social phobia can meet daily needs and maintain their routine tasks: “Generally, these are hardworking, kind, and self-sacrificing people. However, when they advance in their careers, social phobia can become more apparent. Upon being promoted, they may realize they are required to speak more, lead meetings, and coordinate with others. This realization can trigger thoughts like, ‘Oh no, now I have to speak more, bring people together, and collaborate with them,’ leading to panic. At that stage, many individuals seek help from a therapist or specialist.”
What treatments are used for social phobia?
Discussing treatment methods, Prof. Tarhan said: “In treating social phobia, various assessment tools are first used to determine the severity of the condition. Then, the individual's automatic thoughts and faulty beliefs are identified. When core issues are addressed, many symptoms of social phobia can also be resolved. One of the frequently used techniques today is VR (Virtual Reality) therapy. These headsets provide a three-dimensional environment, making the person feel as if they are in a real meeting room. Depending on the individual’s area of highest anxiety, tasks such as public speaking, presenting, or engaging with others are given.
In addition, neurofeedback devices are used to monitor brain waves. When anxiety increases, beta waves spike, skin temperature rises, and there is increased sweating and skin conductivity. These physiological responses are monitored in real time, and biofeedback therapy is applied so that individuals learn how to manage these reactions. Over time, with exposure therapy, desensitization is achieved. With repetition and expert guidance, individuals begin to enter social settings more comfortably.” Prof. Tarhan stressed the importance of avoiding fatalism in social anxiety: “If people say, ‘This is my destiny,’ and simply accept it, then it becomes a personal choice, and the responsibility lies entirely with them. However, in order to grow, one must take calculated risks.”
Culturally, we live in a society that reinforces social phobia
“Our culture supports social phobia,” said Prof. Tarhan, “Children are taught with phrases like ‘Children should be silent while elders speak’ or ‘Never talk back to elders.’ These types of sayings promote a mindset that discourages questioning, suppresses emotions, and glorifies shyness. In the past, this approach helped maintain harmony in society by preventing young people from making mistakes. But today, we live in an era of communication and intense global competition.
To succeed in this environment, we must engage in peaceful competition. Therefore, instead of shielding our children from every mistake, we should teach them to take calculated risks. Especially for individuals with social anxiety, there must be a meaningful goal, that is, something worth striving for. If someone has an ego ideal, a vision of the self they want to become, they can overcome obstacles along the way.”
Parents should allow their children the right to make mistakes
Offering a message to young people, “The greatest victory is victory over the self”, Prof. Tarhan continued his remarks as follows: “This includes the struggle against laziness, fear, fleeting impulses, desires, and the traps of pleasure. Young people must understand that this struggle is what defines success, and they should not fear making mistakes. Parents, too, should grant their children the right to make mistakes. When a child makes a mistake, parents should not focus only on what went wrong. Instead, they should say, ‘Look, you did this part very well, and you can fix the rest,’ and provide support.”
Social media contributes to social phobia
Highlighting the role of social media in exacerbating social phobia, Prof. Tarhan noted:
“Today’s children grow up constantly watching something. But a child who only watches eventually becomes someone who watches life itself, that is, turning into a passive individual who avoids social interaction. Tablets constantly in their hands hinder the development of social skills and lead to avoidant personality traits. They may not appear socially phobic, but they become lazy, and their talents deteriorate.
If we want to raise individuals who question and create rather than merely observe, we must allow children the right to make mistakes and limit their screen time. Many countries have already implemented screen time regulations for children. In Türkiye, this is currently under discussion, and we expect specific regulations, especially for children under 13 to be introduced soon.”
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)