Social Anxiety Or Shyness?

Question

Whats the difference? I myself am quiet until I get to know you. I hate social situation I feel uncomfortable, surly that doesn't mean I have social anxiety? I just don't like social situations, being brought up an only child I am more used to my own company and find it more comfortable, Its the same with Generalised Anxiety Disorder, am I avoiding a situation because I feel anxious or do I just not want to go, Where do you draw the line?

They say if you have to drink alcohol in social situations to feel comfortable you may have social anxiety, I mean everyone I know drinks in social situation to feel comfortable.

I'm confussed, define what social anxiety is and what Shyness is? My Psychologist put this into my head today, I am attending her for Generalised Anxiety Disorder.

Answer 1

Social anxiety is an experience of fear, apprehension or worry regarding social situations and being evaluated by others.

Shyness is the feeling of apprehension or lack of confidence experienced in regard to social association with others, e.g. being in proximity to, approaching and being approached by others.

The difference between the two is the reaction to the social situations. If one simply waits to be approached, and does not initiate a social introduction, they are shy. If one starts to have a panic attack at the mere thought of being around other people, that is anxiety.

Which do you experience?

Answer 2

Something becomes a disorder when it starts to severely impair how you live your day-to-day life, affecting your quality of life in a bad way.

It's kind of like how people can have obsessive compulsive tendencies, but when it starts to take over your life, then it is a disorder.

If your shyness is to the point that it's preventing you from applying for jobs, meeting new people, keeping you from doing everyday things you want to do and you just simply pushing yourself into the situation doesn't help, that could be social anxiety. For instance, if you go to a party, you kind of trail back and someone starts talking to you and eventually you warm up? That's shyness. If in the same scenario you're overcome with a fear that you cannot communicate and dread communicating, that could be Social Anxiety Disorder.

Answer 3

I experience the same thing and I think like the girl said before, it's to do with confidence and not necessarily a disorder.

I find social situations difficult because I'm the youngest of 4 other more outgoing siblings and while growing up I felt my opinions were always disregarded and critsed and so when speaking too new people I was always afraid I would say something stupid.

But I've leaned that the best thing is to slowly throw yourself into thse situations even if only for half an hour at a time to gain experience in having conversations and learn from others around you.

Good luck

Answer 4

Have you ever heard the saying "Painfully shy"? That's what I was ...even through college. It gradually decreased. I do agree that a lot of it is panic attacks. I have panic attacks now...and now that I have a name for it..I realize that's what was happening then. Felt like I put my finger in a wall socket. Maybe s.a.d. and shyness are both panic attacks with different names. However, I'm not shy now and still have panic attacks. Hmmmm And being embarrassed easily..that goes with it. Don't worry about the names...go get treatment for it before you ruin your whole life with being tortured by them. Even if it's "just shyness"....that can keep you from participating in "Life" ! And don't worry about the therapist...that's what they get paid for. Just don't believe everything they tell you. You need to use your common sense too. They're not "gods"..they're just people who have the experiences of other people to draw on to help figure out the answer to other people's problems.

Answer 5

my 11 yr old son says that i am weird, I don't like going out unless its with my husband to the cinema or my sisters again mainly to the cinema, I hate meeting knew people, don't know what to say to them, and when I do start talking I get all tongue tied and I can feel my face going red and I start sewating, I don't drink alot of alcohol but if I did have to go out I would have to drink I think that means that I have social anviety but I also think that shyness plays a large part in that if I wasn't so shy then I would have no problem in going out and meeting knew people, (by the way i come from a family of 5 girls and 1 boy)

Answer 6

Everyone experiences anxiety as a normal reaction to threatening, dangerous, uncertain, or important situations. Psychiatric medicine classifies anxiety as normal or pathological. Normal anxiety can enhance some people's function, motivation, and productivity, such as the person who works well under pressure. People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) experience pathological anxiety, which is excessive, chronic, and typically interferes with their ability to function in normal daily activities. Generalized or "free-floating" anxiety is distinguished from phobia because it is not triggered by a specific object or situation.


Social anxiety:
Some of the signs and symptoms include: 1. An extreme fear of a situation in which you have to meet new people or you may be scrutinized by others.
2. The feared social situations are experienced with intense anxiety or avoided entirely.
3. The anxiety-provoking social situation causes physical symptoms like blushing, sweating, shaking, trembling, tense muscles, shaky voice, dry mouth or a pounding heart.


The basic symptom of social anxiety disorder is of being very anxious in the presence of others. If you suffer from social anxiety disorder, you may think that other people are very confident in public and you are not. Just blushing may feel horribly embarrassing to you, and you may feel like everyone's eyes are always on you. You may feel anxious about giving a speech, talking to a boss or dating.

Some people with social anxiety disorder are afraid of public speaking or parties. Others feel terrible anxiety about using a public restroom, eating out, talking on the phone or writing in front of others.

Almost everyone experiences some social anxiety now and then; it's normal. However, social anxiety disorder consistently limits the lifestyle of those with the illness, in some cases causing them to not participate in school, avoid making friends or miss important opportunities at work. Some people with social anxiety disorder avoid all socially related situations, severely limiting their life, work and social relationships.

Try not to worry my friend ;)

the other thing to think of is ......If your in a situation or a place you dont whant to be....then you aint going to like it and you'll feel uncomfortable.

Your ok be strong and enjoy life.

Answer 7

You probably suffer with neither.

I am very similar, however just because you hate the social scene it doesnt mean you have a disorder or are shy.

You obviously focus yourself more on other things rather than social things.

Nothing wrong with that.

In the future you will find it a lot easier to understand and communicate with people. (I know Ive been there)

Good luck.

Answer 8

There are multiple kinds of disorders that deal with anxiety. Although most can manifest in similar ways, these disorders generally occur due to different events in your life. Natural home remedies for anxiety https://tr.im/fbr8X
Generalized anxiety disorder includes persistent and unnecessary worries about everyday, common events or activities, which can disrupt concentration and lead to other issues, such as depression.

Answer 9

shy people have been criticised alot during their childhood which brings about shyness
social anxiety is slightly different where any social situation can actually bring about panic attacks and discomfort ranges from sweats to stammmering to just avoiding the situation leaving you mostly house bound

Answer 10

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