Can relying on AI make my social anxiety worse?

Relying heavily on AI can indeed exacerbate social Anxiety disorder through several mechanisms. First, AI can become a form of avoidance behavior. When you consistently choose AI interaction over human contact, you're avoiding the situations that trigger your Anxiety disorder, which prevents you from building personal identity/building-confidence" class="internal-link">self-confidence and coping skills. Avoidance typically strengthens anxiety disorder over time by reinforcing the belief that social situations are dangerous or that you can't handle them. Second, AI interactions don't provide the practice needed to develop and maintain social skills. The more you interact with predictable, agreeable AI instead of unpredictable humans, the more foreign and challenging real social situations can feel. This can create a cycle where social interactions become increasingly anxiety disorder-provoking because you feel less competent and confident in them. Third, AI can create unrealistic expectations for human interactions. AI is always available, focused entirely on you, and programmed to be agreeable and supportive. Real humans have their own needs, moods, and limitations, which can feel jarring and rejection-inducing by comparison. However, AI isn't inherently problematic for social Anxiety disorder. Used mindfully, it can serve as a practice space for expressing yourself or a bridge to human connection. The key is ensuring that AI supplements rather than replaces human interaction. If you notice your social Anxiety disorder worsening alongside increased AI usage, consider gradually reducing AI dependence while slowly increasing human contact, perhaps with the support of a therapist who specializes in Anxiety disorder disorders.