How to know if you have social anxiety/phobia? Or just shyness?
Question:
-talking on the phone or calling people (even friends)
-eating in front of people
-writing or typing in front of people (even my family!)
-meeting new people
-talking to strangers
Also, I feel mentally exhausted if I have to interact with strangers for too long. For instance, there's a new girl at work who I like, but I was really relieved when (after just a day or two of interacting with her) I got to "take a break" from her when she called in sick. And this was someone I liked.
Should I try to seek help? Or does this sound like a normal level of shyness/anxiety?
Answers:
Social Anxiety vs. Shyness
Shy people do not experience the same intense anxiety as people with social anxiety disorder. In addition, shy people don't avoid social situations to the extreme that people with social anxiety disorder do.
Shyness is not a criteria for social anxiety disorder. People with social anxiety disorder may be quite comfortable with certain people or many people, but still avoid or feel intense anxiety in specific social situations. In addition, social anxiety disorder may come to be debilitating for some people whereas shyness does not. Social anxiety disorder may begin to overtake every aspect of a person's life.
you have a little social anxiety disorder to be honest, but it isn't to big of a deal, if you want to change it you need to force yourself into public area's. If you are happy the way you are no big deal.
If you feel your anxiety is overwhelming you and it limits your activity and interactions with others and places a great deal then you may want to look into getting counseling. The more you do things that make you nervous, the more likely the anxiety will subside. (Such as talking to strangers.) Try to relax before you are going to do something that may make you nervous. And try to remember, that people around you are not watching everything you are doing and that most ppl are more into themselves and what they are doing at the moment then to pay attention to you if your typing, if u stumble, or say the "wrong" thing.
There are some helpful websites listed here at webmd.com:
http://www.webmd.com/search/search_resul...
I have had issues with social anxiety and just general anxiety in the past when i was younger, and i still do at some times. however, it is a lot better than i was a teen. I did not take medication or see anyone, but i thought about it a lot. I think i would now if i felt the way i did then. It helped me a great deal to remember situations i was nervous going into, and that they usually turned out a lot better once the situation was over. It helped me realize that i didnt need to be so upset and nervous before. Like you said you liked karate class a lot more once you went, because u got to know ppl. Next time you go into a new situation like a different type of class or anything u have to participate in, u can remember that everything turned out fine with karate. u were nervous before, but you got through it. and im sure you are glad you made yourself go because you would have missed out on a lot of fun!! Good luck on working things out!
ypou could go to a therapist if you wanted..but it doesnt sound to major..i know heaps of people like this..probably half the population have problems like this.yeah its mentally exhausting having to keep up conversation with people at work and seeming interested and you feel violated if they ask you questions...but thats that.
it sounds fairly normal to me.but if its getting to you you can see a therapist or a group or something and that will get you a little more confident.
See those subjects at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris... on page 9.
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