The Biology Behind Social Anxiety Is Deeper Than We Thought

Around 12% of people live with social anxiety.

Freelance Life Writer

According to the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), around 12 per cent of people will experience social anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, making it the most prevalent form of anxiety.

If you’re not familiar with the condition, the NHS describes it as: “a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations.” They add that it usually starts during teenage years and can be very distressing and impact your day-to-day life.

Now, researchers have revealed that the condition which was always thought to be something purely in our minds, it may actually be related to our gut health and changes in our brains, too.

What social anxiety is and how it relates to the gut

While introversion and social anxiety may sometimes crossover, there is a key difference and it’s perfectly explained by NICE guidelines. NICE says: “Social anxiety disorder (also known as ‘social phobia’) is an overwhelming fear of socialsituations...

“Although everyone worries from time to time about coping with a social situation, for people with social........

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