Can stress cause me to become antisocial?

Hi. It’s Jenny at AnxietyBoss.com. Our question today is from Frank in Corpus Christi, Texas. Can stress cause me to become antisocial?

Stress can certainly cause someone to engage in antisocial behaviors. When under extreme stress, some people find that going somewhere where they’re alone helps to relieve some of it. While this may be true, it can lead to prolonged staying in that safe place away from others, so that the person avoids other stressful situations.

An example of this is overuse of the internet. For example, after a long and stressful day at work, some people may turn to their blog to vent about it or watch YouTube videos to cheer themselves up. This type of behavior may begin to accumulate over time and eventually cause the person to find themselves spending more time in front of a computer screen than in front of other people in building their social skills. In fact, many people blame technology for the lack of social skills and common sense that the newest generations have fallen at fault for.

If you feel that you’re experiencing symptoms similar to loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy, unusual negative thoughts, an intense fear of speaking to others or avoiding situations in which you may be embarrassed, then you may be experiencing symptoms of social anxiety disorder as a result of excessive stress.

Please be sure to discuss how you’re feeling with your doctor, so that you’re able to receive the best treatment.