Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) are two overwhelming mental disorders that may significantly affect the quality of life of any suffering person. Still, many recent cross-studies can be reviewed to see how these two disorders are, although different inherently linked.
The relationship between OCD vs social anxiety, along with the treatment, will also be discussed in this article.
Learn The Differences: OCD And Social Anxiety
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is described by the existence of an obsession or image (idea, thought, image) that causes discomfort and compulsive behavior or idea (action) that has as its aim to avoid distress. These obsessions and compulsions may take time and severely affect a person’s daily life.
This form of anxiety is diagnosed by the patient’s excessive fear and avoidance of social situations. People suffering from SAD may show signs of social obsessive-compulsive disorder, such as sweating, blushing, and trembling in social settings.
Read More: What are some of the common symptoms of OCD in kids?
Possible Linkage Between OCD And Social Anxiety
- Shared Symptoms: Both OCD and SAD are categorized by feelings of anxiousness, fear, and avoidance. People with OCD can also develop social phobia because they are ashamed of their thoughts and behaviors that manifest themselves in obsessions and compulsions.
- Underlying Mechanisms: Scientific investigation indicates that genetic and neurochemical similarities between OCD and social anxiety may exist, for example, due to dopamine dysregulation.
- Comorbidity: Data indicates that people suffering from OCD also have SAD and vice versa, whereas both OCD and SAD are often found in the same individuals. These are concurrent conditions since one invariably increases the likelihood of developing the other.
The Impact Of OCD And Social Anxiety
OCD and Social anxiety disorders are potentially devastating disorders that can severely demotivate a person. People with OCD may experience difficulties in interpersonal relations, at their workplace, or in performing other tasks and activities related to OCD symptoms. The ones suffering from social anxiety may shun society completely, thus developing more problems to do with loneliness.
Can OCD Cause Social Anxiety?
Though, in many ways, social anxiety is a separate condition from OCD, the two disorders are quite endemic; having one predisposes the patient to the other. The coexistence of OCD and SAD is examined extensively in the empirical literature. A person with OCD is likely to suffer from social anxiety symptoms because of the obsessions and or compulsive behavior of the individual.
Here’s how OCD can contribute to social anxiety:
- Fear of judgment due to the presence of OCD symptoms:
OCD patients are always worried that people will see them and look at their compulsions. For instance, if the obsessions involved are exercising excessive hand washing, checking compulsions, or mental compulsions, the person may also become anxious about the idea that others would notice and consider the said actions as odd or silly. This concern may often result in vocal avoidance, social isolation, and fear features of social phobia.
This fear of ‘judgment’ is not confined to well-known ‘obsessions.’ Those whose compulsions are mental or covert (involving counting or mouthing words) may worry that their anxiety or distress will be noticed by others, leading to a case of social anxiety.
Read More: Is OCD Genetic? The Role Of Genes In OCD Manifestation
- Fear of failure and overestimated sense of responsibility
OCD clients make and correct mistakes frequently because they believe that making a mistake will cause a catastrophe. In particular, it can manifest in social interactions involving excessive concern with one’s appearance or apprehension of making a social mistake. The pressure to speak, behave properly, and be understood correctly makes social anxiety worse.
For instance, a patient with OCD may develop a preoccupation with whether or not they have hurt someone else’s feelings or become overly concerned with finding ways not to offend someone. This they do to avoid making a mistake, which in turn results in extreme anxiety as easy as a conversation with a coworker.
- Avoidance as a coping mechanism:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder and social anxiety have several avoidant behaviors, and this only maintains the disorders. For instance, if the obsessive-compulsive person fears contamination, he will avoid shaking a hand or going out to social events where he will encounter germs. This avoidance can also become conditioned as cognitions regarding germs are gradually converted into cognitions regarding social interaction.
Likewise, if a person with social anxiety has a story of embarrassing themself, they will avoid other occasions to avoid what the person feels is humiliating. This, over time, increases their anxiety, making it very uncomfortable for them to deal with social activities.
- Obsessions Focused on Social Approval
In other cases, OCD patients may develop obsessions about contamination, followed by compulsions to wash their hands or develop obsessions about receiving or not receiving acknowledgement from people they know or do not know. These social-focused obsessions compel the person to excessively worry over their social image and will act compulsively to ‘maintain’ their social status.
For example, people may constantly seek their approval and advice to ensure they are not being intrusive or crude or excessively maintaining their hygiene before events because they want to be perfect. These obsessions about social acceptance are a direct route into social anxiety – interactions become feared.
Read More: Can OCD Be Caused By A Traumatic Event?
The Cycle Of OCD And Social Anxiety
Recent studies show that when OCD and social anxiety are present at the same time, both conditions seem to worsen each other. The more someone with OCD feels threatened by the stigma associated with obsessions and compulsions, the more they might end up being socially withdrawn, and the symptoms of both conditions will only worsen. This only causes people to believe it’s safer to avoid social situations altogether, which feeds into social anxiety even more.
Similarly, a person suffering from SAD may develop ritualized preoccupations with social situations, for example, why they will not be able to control their nervousness or why others will ridicule them. These may turn into obsessions of a compulsion, thus making the particular person perform ritualistic activities that reduce the anxiety.
In the long run, such a cycle hinders a person from getting involved in social, occupational, and personal activities and greatly impacts their daily life.
Treatment For OCD And Social Anxiety
Behavioral interventions for social obsessive-compulsive disorder affect your brain in almost similar ways to medication.
Cognitive behavior therapy is the standard course of treatment for OCD and social anxiety, though other forms of psychotherapy may also be used and may occasionally be prescribed drugs.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Popular treatments like CBT are also proven to be effective on both OCD and social anxiety. One way it benefits people is that it assists them in stopping patterns of thinking and acting that exacerbate their symptoms.
- Exposure and response prevention (ERP): This is a form of CBT for OCD that requires exposure of the persons to their phobia and not allowing them to perform the compulsions.
- Medication: Medication used to treat OCD and social anxiety include antidepressants for depression signs, particularly serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Read More: Retroactive Jealousy OCD: A Deep Dive
In case you experience OCD or social anxiety, you should consult a professional health care specialist. Sometimes, contacting a qualified mental health professional is better to help create an appropriate individual plan.
Concluding Remarks!
OCD is a separate illness from social anxiety, although they may occur simultaneously. Although the two conditions may be somewhat similar, overlapping with each other, especially in feelings of anxiety and avoidance, they are distinct from each other. The coexistence of both these disorders requires a basic understanding of their interaction for successful diagnosis and treatment. Find help if you have noticed signs of OCD or social anxiety because they should not be ignored. ADHD and OCD can both contribute to social anxiety, creating a complex connection of symptoms. These conditions can, however, be controlled with the correct support to help enhance the quality of living. Don’t let OCD or social anxiety control your life. Contact Inland Empire Behavioral Group today.
