Anxiety Social Anxiety Disorder Living With How Social Anxiety Affects Dating and Intimate Relationships By Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of The Anxiety Workbook and founder of the website About Social Anxiety. She has a Master's degree in clinical psychology. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 08, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print Vetta/Avid Creative, Inc / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Dating Aggression Online Dating Romantic Relationships Trending Videos Close this video player Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common psychological disorder, and it can affect dating and intimate relationships in many different ways. Here we discuss recent research on the topic of dating and relationships when you have social anxiety disorder as well as ways to help your dating and relationship anxiety. Dating Aggression In a study of adolescents, fear of negative evaluation (FNE), one aspect of social anxiety in which you're afraid of being perceived negatively, was found to significantly predict male dating aggression. Researchers observed both physical aggression (slapping, use of a weapon, forced sex) and psychological aggression (slamming doors, insulting, or refusing to talk to a partner). It's thought that in this case, the "fight or flight" response may reflect this aggressive tendency. How to Identify Emotional Abuse Online Dating Social anxiety can make online relationships and communication seem much more doable, but use caution. A recent study showed that people with SAD have a tendency to think of internet relationships as easier, safer, and better controlled than in-person relationships. This thinking can lead to excessive internet use and a tendency to avoid face-to-face situations, which, if you have SAD, you know are already difficult. However, online dating can also be a great way to meet people and get to know them through messaging, texting, or email before you meet them in person. Where to Meet People When You Have Dating Anxiety Romantic Relationships Unfortunately, SAD can take a toll on your ability to establish, develop, and maintain romantic relationships. Part of this is likely because it's difficult to let your guard down and feel vulnerable, even with someone you love and trust. The higher your anxiety, the more difficult emotional intimacy may be because you may see it as too risky. For those who receive treatment and are able to find the right supportive partner, a healthy and fulfilling relationship is not at all out of the question. Tips to Lessen Dating Anxiety If you're anxious about dating, keep these tips in mind: Talk about what's important to you. While this is probably the last thing you want to do, true intimacy is based on knowing and understanding each other. You can't have it without sharing. This doesn't mean you need to spend the entire conversation giving your life history, but consider telling your date about something or someone important to you or what you really think about your food. Focus on the present. Think about what you're doing or what you're eating and how you feel in the moment. Don't worry about the past or the future, try to enjoy and embrace the right now. Give yourself room to be who you are. You are a valuable person with your own unique insights, experiences, and personality. Learn to embrace that, to love who you are and what you have to offer someone in a relationship. Assume the best, not the worst. Don't jump to conclusions about what your date might be thinking about you. Anxiety can get the best of us when we make assumptions about what others think or feel, but assuming is not only unfair to you, but also unfair to the other person. Disrupt your negative thoughts. As soon as you hear that tape in your head telling you that someone isn't into you or they think you're weird, challenge those thoughts with questions like, "Is it possible I misinterpreted their text?", "Am I truly listening to my friend or trying to read their mind?", or "Is it realistic to assume my reputation is ruined because I made a mistake?" Identifying and disrupting distorted thoughts is something you can work on beforehand as well. Managing Relationships With Social Anxiety Disorder 4 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Stein DJ, Lim CCW, Roest AM, et al. The cross-national epidemiology of social anxiety disorder: Data from the World Mental Health Survey Initiative. BMC Med. 2017;15:143. doi:10.1186/s12916-017-0889-2 Hanby MS, Fales J, Nangle DW, Serwik AK, Hedrich UJ. Social Anxiety as a Predictor of Dating Aggression. J Interpers Violence. 2012;27(10):1867-1888. doi:10.1177/0886260511431438 Lee BW, Stapinski LA. Seeking safety on the internet: Relationship between social anxiety and problematic internet use. J Anxiety Disord. 2012;26(1):197-205. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.11.001 Porter E, Chambless DL. Shying Away From a Good Thing: Social Anxiety in Romantic Relationships. J Clinical Psychol. 2013;70(6):546-561. doi:10.1002/jclp.22048 Additional Reading Kolakowski S. 5 Ways to Overcome Dating Anxiety. Scientific American. September 12, 2014. By Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of The Anxiety Workbook and founder of the website About Social Anxiety. She has a Master's degree in clinical psychology. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit