Social Anxiety and Dating: When the World Feels Like Too Much

Social anxiety is more than being shy

It is the dread before a dinner party that you said yes to three weeks ago and have been worried about ever since. It is replaying the conversation you had at that event and finding everything you did wrong. It is the exhaustion of performing okay in public and then having nothing left when you get home.

For people with social anxiety, relationships are complicated. You want connection. You also find connection exhausting. Those two things do not resolve easily.

What social anxiety looks like in a relationship

Canceling plans because the thought of going out feels like too much. Needing a lot of decompression time after social events. Feeling guilty about how much your anxiety affects your partner. Worrying that your partner will eventually find someone easier.

And for your partner: not always understanding why something that seems small to them feels enormous to you. Navigating the logistics of social life around your limits. Wanting to help but not knowing how.

What therapy looks like for social anxiety

We do not start by throwing you into uncomfortable situations and hoping for the best. We start by understanding what the anxiety is actually about. What does the social world feel threatening? What story is your nervous system telling you about what happens when you are seen?

From there we work on the story and on building real capacity. Not tolerance for discomfort but actual confidence that comes from understanding yourself better and having better tools.

Immediate openings for couples counseling and individual therapy in Layton, UT and telehealth throughout Utah. To get started, call 801-525-4645 and request Candace Lance. You can also view and my profile on Psychology Today or on Therapy Den.