Shyness and Social Anxiety

musics_advocate

New member
Hello all, I'm new here. I don't know if it's a little unorthodox, (or even against the rules or something), but I joined this site because I'm interested in hearing how social anxiety impacts people's lives. I do not have social anxiety myself.

That said, maybe you all could help me understand something a little bit better. I've searched the forums briefly for a question like this and turned up nothing, however I can't spend all day combing through thousands of posts, so bear with me when I ask this: How does social anxiety differ from shyness? Is shyness just a "symptom" of SA or does it run deeper than that?

I ask because I know quite a few people who express extreme shyness, and getting to know them is a long and slow process (due to their presumed fear of opening up right away) and I wonder how SA and shyness are related. I don't know if these people have SA but they are without a doubt quiet and shy. Any insight to where these two characteristics overlap?

As a quick aside, I think this site is a glorious thing and I'm pleased to listen to your stories, so thanks for sharing, never stop trying to grow as human beings.

Thanks in advance for any replies!
 

Azunyan

Well-known member
"Shyness is diagnosable as Social Phobia only if it is severe enough to adversely affect social or occupational functioning. Although it is common for many people to experience some anxiety before or during a public appearance, anxiety levels in people with Social Phobia can become so high that they begin to avoid all social situations. They may have reactions resembling a panic attack.

This fear may become so severe that it interferes with work, school, and other ordinary activities, and can make it hard to make and keep friends. People with Social Phobia often suffer “anticipatory” anxiety — the fear of a situation before it even happens — for days or weeks before the event."
Source: Shyness or Social Phobia?

For me i avoid almost anything, simple things like going to the store or taking a walk. I have anxiety about going to work everyday(even though i like it), especially after weekends. Avoid friends, family, work if possible. I also get headaches, stomach problems, problem walking correctly, sweating with daily social events.
 

surewhynot

Well-known member
There is most likely a strong correlation between shyness and social anxiety. Most people with social anxiety, if not all, are shy. However, does every single shy person have social anxiety? Well that depends on your definition of social anxiety I guess. It's not as simple to diagnose as a physical illness, like cancer.

Some people will even tell you that everyone has social anxiety from time to time, just at varying levels. Others don't even see it as a health condition, just as a part of your personality.
 

O'Killian

Well-known member
The semantics are starting to bother me too - the APA's definition of shyness is "the tendency to feel awkward, worried or tense during social encounters, especially with unfamiliar people."

Worded differently, it's anxiety. About social situations. Ergo, social anxiety.

Of course, when most people say SA/social anxiety, I'm pretty sure they mean social anxiety disorder (or social phobia), where people are constantly and/or acutely experiencing shyness. (I'm pretty sure that, at one point or the other, every human being has felt shy.)

So to answer the question more directly, anxiety about social situations and shyness are pretty much the same thing. If it's a pervasive problem that troubles the person and/or prevents them from leading a relatively normal life, that's social phobia (or social anxiety disorder). If it's not really troubling the person - and the definition of 'relatively normal' being subjective aside - they're just a quiet, reserved, and/or private person.
 
Top