Shyness And Social Anxiety: A Matter Of Degrees
Many people fail to understand the difference between shyness and social anxiety.
Perhaps you are one of those people and you are wondering if you or someone you love is just shy, or if they have a disorder that needs treatment.
This article is designed to help you understand both shyness and social anxiety, and to give you ideas on how to deal with both.
Shyness is just a kinder, gentler social anxiety.
The simplest way to distinguish between shyness and social phobia is to consider that shyness is just a mild form of anxiety in social situations.
In general, people who are shy find that it has very little impact on their daily lives.
For those is social phobia, however, the condition can be nearly debilitating.
Many people are shy.
In fact, while some people are shy most of the time, most people feel shy some of the time.
Maybe they have moved to a new neighborhood or find themselves at a party where they don't know many people.
At that point anyone might feel a little uncomfortable or reluctant to talk.
For those with anxiety disorder, however, every social occasion feels uncomfortable.
They may even panic at the thought of something as simple as attending a party, or meeting someone new.
That is why so many people with social phobia find it difficult to date or even just speak with someone on the phone.
Its often difficult to cope.
Another difference between shyness and anxiety of a social type lies in the ability of the person to cope.
Someone who is shy may not want to speak in front of a crowd, but he can overcome his fear through determination, practicing his speech in front of the mirror, etc.
For someone with anxiety disorder, however, giving a speech is out of the question.
They would even risk losing their jobs rather than talk in front of a group.
While shyness tends to have very little physical impact on a person, social anxiety can make the suffered physically ill.
Some with social anxiety break out in a sweat or feel nauseous at the mere mention of a social event.
While someone who is shy find such events draining, someone with social anxiety may even imagine them to be deadly.
Perhaps you are one of those people and you are wondering if you or someone you love is just shy, or if they have a disorder that needs treatment.
This article is designed to help you understand both shyness and social anxiety, and to give you ideas on how to deal with both.
Shyness is just a kinder, gentler social anxiety.
The simplest way to distinguish between shyness and social phobia is to consider that shyness is just a mild form of anxiety in social situations.
In general, people who are shy find that it has very little impact on their daily lives.
For those is social phobia, however, the condition can be nearly debilitating.
Many people are shy.
In fact, while some people are shy most of the time, most people feel shy some of the time.
Maybe they have moved to a new neighborhood or find themselves at a party where they don't know many people.
At that point anyone might feel a little uncomfortable or reluctant to talk.
For those with anxiety disorder, however, every social occasion feels uncomfortable.
They may even panic at the thought of something as simple as attending a party, or meeting someone new.
That is why so many people with social phobia find it difficult to date or even just speak with someone on the phone.
Its often difficult to cope.
Another difference between shyness and anxiety of a social type lies in the ability of the person to cope.
Someone who is shy may not want to speak in front of a crowd, but he can overcome his fear through determination, practicing his speech in front of the mirror, etc.
For someone with anxiety disorder, however, giving a speech is out of the question.
They would even risk losing their jobs rather than talk in front of a group.
While shyness tends to have very little physical impact on a person, social anxiety can make the suffered physically ill.
Some with social anxiety break out in a sweat or feel nauseous at the mere mention of a social event.
While someone who is shy find such events draining, someone with social anxiety may even imagine them to be deadly.