I have never been diagnosed with SA, but there is a possibility that I do have it. I've always been extremely shy, and during elementary schools, I believe teachers and counselors have tried to address the issue with my parents. I did have to repeat first grade, for a small mixture of reasons, but I am guessing my extreme shyness was one of them, although I m told otherwise. as yrs progressed, I excelled as a student and was even moved up to the higher track. My shyness did not cripple me in my classes and for the most part, I got things done regardless of it.
However, I have had people TELL ME that I have social anxiety. whenever my sister and I would be in an argument, she would tell me that I had social anxiety, no friends, and I was afraid of people, and "just to talk." Other students would call me a mime or a mute. Then, my first BF (now X), which I had last year told me "You have some sort of social anxiety." I was extremely upset about this. If I had SA, which I don't know, I would tell him if I wanted to and was comfortable with it. THERE was no way that someone was going to TELL ME that I had it. He was a psychology major, trying to work with what he has learned in abnormal psych I guess, but it still made me upset. He had said some other things that concerned me - that related to my shyness - and I am glad that we broke up. It's not that I would be ashamed to have SA, but if I had it I don't think I would tell people. I jut believe that if I told people - that it could have a good or bad effect- it's quite the gamble. For the most part, I believe that people would instantly lable me - think me ill- and go on making other assumptions that I am not capable of certain things because of it. I believe that if I had i, I would continue on trying to gt better each day and not go around telling people and risk being stigmatized. People know that I am extremely quiet, they may assume I do have SA, but don't ever diagnose me.
