My story...is this Social Anxiety Disorder or just shyness?

happywannabe · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:07 pm Post subject:

is social phobia social anxiety and shyness all the same thing am so confuessed so want i really have i been shy all my life then i surfured from depression the social phobia so it must have been the shyness it brought it on then

Guest · Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 1:03 am Post subject:

ill be blunt , i am slowly sorting my self out , being in a similar situation.
if you dont like eating alone , just do it , the more you do it the less shy u'll be , if someone puts u on the spot , be it a teacher in a full class (you know the oens when u go bright red , and start sweating as all teh other students turn round to hear what u have to say) , just think to urself "why will it sound any different comnig from me , than it is coming from my confident friend" , so just say it , no one actually cares , as someone said they'll forget by the end of the day anyway. just think to urself "who gives a shit what they think about me" if u look no different to anyone else , then why not talk the same as everyone else. thats what im doing at the moment and ppl have really bn saying that ive changed and that im alot more happier and that at work ,its because i have bn expressing more of my feelings rather than bottling them up . the more u do it the easier it gets!!!
i hope this helps.

mystery · Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 8:19 pm Post subject:

Feel the same way as u are collegeguy..
Maybe its kind of like a selective Social Phobia or something, but like any..it all revolves around shyness and low-self esteem I guess.. Sad

Guest · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: responding to college guy

Guest · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2004 4:27 pm Post subject: err.hi

I'm sort of in the same situation..im 15 and after almost a year of being unable to socialise apart from with friends i'm (sort of) finally getting the courage to go and speak to a doctor. i suffer from horrible ..i dunno..panic or anxiety attacks where i lose sight of where i am or who people are. i've hit out at friends who have touched me on occaision. i dont know if i suffer from S.A.D. or just excessive shyness.
i go completely balnk with new people, i literally cannot speak
i go red
i cant look at their faces
i sweat
i struggle to breath
and all that..i do anything not to socialise with unfamiliar people jsutn stopping before completely locking myself in my house. i go to school because i am capable of grades, and i want them.

all i can say is try and go for help...make sure people realise. but i suggest you be prepared. im plagued by people calling me a fake and that i only do it for attention. i suspect others get this just as much. And be sure of what you want. Drugs and therapy might help you, but they can have side affects too.

Guest · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2004 10:01 pm Post subject:

I agree with worrydoll, except for the soul crap, very insightful.

gen1cummins · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 2:34 am Post subject:

im the same way not sure what to call it but it just isnt right.i personally think ive got a lesser form of SAD cause it seem a little more than just shyness, although thats all anyone else thinks is wrong with me, yet im not like suicidal or locking myself in my closet or anything, but i definatly got some problems, and im sick of it soim gettin some help as soon as possible ( i have no health insurance as of yet), but goin on this site is one step of many on the road to beating this crap, so get some help man cause it only gonna get worse if you dont.

annaC · Newbie User Joined: Sep 29, 2006 Posts: 8

so confusing....

shyness...sa....shy...sa....anxiety...gad..

natebrooce · Newbie User Joined: Sep 18, 2006 Posts: 8

hey college guy it seems to me you have some signs of sa, being extremely self conscience and constantly thinking the worst of other people's thought's being the big one for you.

Though you have friends and go partys and seem like a pretty cool guy!
I agree with pongle and think that you should confide in someone you trust and with the help of your friends/family and the board you can banish these thoughts out of your mind.

Think to yourself when your out with friends and family do you notice the guy eating his food on a lunch break? no because its nothing out of the ordinary.

its tough man these persistant thoughts , but youl get thru it.

missshy · Newbie User Joined: Oct 11, 2006 Posts: 4

Hi there
This one always got me stumped and I really hate the line: Oh....you are shy you'll grow out of it.... well Im now 32 when will that start???????
Not to sound like a book, but I looked up the definition of social anxietyand it saids as so : social phobia is a disorder characterized by a persistent fear of criticism or rejection by others.
So there you go. I believe that some people can be shy but shyness is not a disorder just a personality trait I suppose. Social anxiety is a disorder.
I hope this helps anyone asking this question Smile