Social Anxiety Disorder

[Jazzy]

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is an intense fear of becoming extremely anxious and possibly humiliated in social situations — specifically of embarrassing yourself in front of other people.

A person who suffers from social anxiety tends to think that other people are far better at public speaking, or hanging out in a social sociation and mingling with others at a party. The person tends to focus on every little small mistake they do in a social situation, and exaggerate them out of proportion.

Simply blushing may seem painfully embarrassing to a person with a social phobia, and they may feel as though all eyes are focused on them.

Some people with social anxiety have specific fears, such as public speaking or needing to talk to their boss about a concern at work. Other times, the fears may be more generalized — such as a fear of any social situation whatsoever, especially those involving strangers.

Do you have Social anxiety disorder? If so, how do you cope with it?

 

[Bryd0]

One of my friends has this, and I think I may have it too... only that I'm not actually diagnosed with it. I just assume that I have, given that I do feel anxious and awkward in social situations sometimes. Even at college

 

[Raven]

I don't really know if I could have this but some things sound familiar. I have to really psych myself up before I talk to my boss, no idea why. I get paranoid in large groups, If someone I know is talking to a load of people I don't know I can't go up to them and say hi until they've moved away.
I hate talking on the phone and in presentations or even aloud in my team at work, every I want to say comes out all mixed up and I can here my voice shaking with nerves.

 

[McConnaughay]

I actually have a very severe case of social-anxiety disorder, and I have had it since I was a little kid. I have had a handful of panic attacks, and it's been a very controlling factor in my life for some time. I'd like to think that I have managed to overcome a lot of the hurdles that have been put in-front of me, but there are still times that it puts me through the ringer. When I started my freshman year in high-school, I used to go into the bathroom and throw up because I was afraid of doing math problems on the board. I had long hair, and I'd hide behind it. I didn't talk to very many people.

Now, I talk a lot more than what I used to, and have a long conversation with just about anybody especially because of how different my humor is from a lot of people, but I have yet to get my driver's license because of it. I tried driving last week and I had a panic attack that put me into the hospital for the day. I am trying some new medication, we'll see how that goes.

 

[DrLeftover]

One can hate the general public and take some pains to avoid crowds and dealing with "people" without having the disorder.

I am not uneasy in crowds, and I don't experience irrational fears, I don't have anxiety over it, and I don't think I've ever had a panic attack, I just don't like "people".

There is a difference.

The last time I was in a large crowd was the NASCAR race in June. I went with my daughter and her husband and his family to a function before the race, then sat in turn two with several thousand of our 'closest friends'. And I was fine. I wouldn't want to do it every weekend, but it didn't make me hyperventilate.

 

[Nebulous]

Although I am anti-social at times and don't have a ton of friends, I don't think I have this.