How Social Anxiety Is Affecting School and University Students

Written by Nadira Jahan Muna

A Closer Look at Mental Health Challenges in Education

Have you ever noticed a classmate who always sits alone in the corner of the classroom, avoids eye contact, and trembles when speaking in front of others? Have you ever wondered why they behave this way? There could be many reasons, but today we will focus on one: social anxiety. Social anxiety refers to feeling very nervous, scared, or uncomfortable in social situations — especially when you think people might judge you. It’s clear that people with social anxiety find it very difficult to cope with social situations

What Is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety, also known as social anxiety disorder (SAD), is a mental health condition characterized by an intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or rejected in social or performance situations.

Is shyness and social anxiety identical?

The answer is ‘ NO’.You may have not identify

social anxiety in your classmate because you thought it to be simply shyness.Here the loophole lies.

Let’s point out the differencea between these two.

Socially – Anxious Student’s Challenges

Today’s education is very challenging and competitive.It largely requires networking. And so,social anxiety can deeply impact a student’s daily life — from academic performance to forming friendships and participating in class. Although it may not always be visible, it is often maintained by a combination of negative thoughts, unrealistic expectations, and unhelpful behavior patterns.

Negative Beliefs and Unrealistic Expectations

Many students with social anxiety hold unhelpful core beliefs about themselves. They might constantly think things like:

“I’m weird,” “I’m boring,” “I’m not good enough,” or “I don’t know how to talk to people.” These beliefs lead them to doubt their ability to handle everyday interactions like group discussions, presentations, or even casual conversations.

In addition, they often set unrealistically high standards for their social performance. Thoughts like:

“I must make everyone like me,” “I should always say the perfect thing,” or “No one should ever see me feeling nervous” can create intense pressure. Because these standards are nearly impossible to meet, students constantly feel like they’re failing — which fuels their anxiety even more.

Anxiety in Action: The Vicious Cycle

When students with social anxiety enter situations like giving a presentation or answering a question in class, their body’s fight-or-flight response may kick in. This leads to physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, a shaky voice, or rapid heartbeat.

Unfortunately, these physical signs often make students even more anxious. They may fear that others will notice these symptoms and judge them for “losing control,” which worsens their anxiety in future situations.

Unhelpful Thinking Styles

In many cases, social anxiety is worsened by distorted ways of thinking, such as:

Emotional reasoning – “I feel embarrassed, so I must have embarrassed myself.”

Catastrophic thinking – “If I speak up in class, I’ll mess up and everyone will laugh at me.”

These thoughts aren’t based on reality, but they feel real — and they lead to behaviors that keep the anxiety going.

Avoidance and Safety Behaviors

To escape the distress of social situations, many students avoid them altogether. They might skip classes with presentations, avoid group work, or stay silent even when they know the answer. While avoidance brings short-term relief, it also means they never get to test whether their fears are accurate or learn that social situations can go well.

Others rely on safety behaviors to get through social situations. For example, they might:

• Avoid eye contact

• Speak very quietly or quickly

• Stay close to more outgoing friends and let them do the talking

• Use phones or headphones to avoid interaction

Although these behaviors might help temporarily, they prevent students from building real confidence and keep the anxiety going in the long run.

Impact on School Students

In school-aged children and adolescents, social anxiety can disrupt the foundational stages of learning and emotional development. These students may avoid raising their hands in class, refrain from forming friendships, or perform poorly during oral exams and group work — not because of lack of knowledge, but due to overwhelming fear.

Over time, this avoidance can lead to:

• Low academic achievement

• Social isolation

• Poor self-esteem

• Increased risk of depression or other anxiety disorders

Impact on University Students

At the university level, students are expected to be more independent, socially active, and academically driven. For socially anxious students, this transition can be particularly stressful. Fear of social judgment may lead them to avoid networking events, internships, presentations, or even attending lectures. This not only affects their academic success but also limits personal and professional growth.

Social anxiety can result in:

• Underperformance in assessments involving communication

• Limited engagement with peers and professors

• Difficulty forming relationships

• Delayed graduation or dropout in severe cases

Conclusion

Social anxiety is a serious but often overlooked challenge faced by many school and university students. It affects not only academic performance but also emotional well-being and future opportunities. With greater awareness, timely support, and professional intervention, socially anxious students can thrive and reach their full potential.