Social Anxiety or Just Being Shy

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Did you know there is a difference between being SHY and having SOCIAL ANXIETY? Many think it is the same thing. It's important to know the difference or if you have a mixture of both. Are you ready to watch a video of me when I was younger? Take the test to see if you can recognize social anxiety or shyness.
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DISCLOSURE: Although I am a licensed therapist. This video is not intended to replace medical advice. This is for information purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a local mental health professional.⠀

[ocdandanxiety]

Do you struggle with social anxiety or shyness? What does it look like? 😃

[Bluu_kat]

I’ll never forget sitting on the bus crying because I wanted to introduce myself to the new foreign exchange student, make a new friend. But I just couldn’t. It was like someone had a gun to my head

[cambriacorsi]

I really appreciate this video! I've always been shy (just haven't really cared or been interested in a lot of social situations -- I'm also an introvert, so I prefer to be alone anyway), but I feel like I've developed more social anxiety as I've been in college and have been expected to "perform" more. Essentially, I've been able to distinguish between my natural shyness and my social anxiety because I've realized that my social anxiety is a cycle (I feel anxious and think that I will be judged by others -> I don't participate socially -> I feel more anxiety about my lack of participation). What's really helped me has been actively thinking to myself "You are good enough" and "You deserve to participate" before social situations and, like you mentioned, making the social situation as positive as possible.

[incubus_the_man]

the thing about it is that our society scorns 'shyness' and rewards extroversion. Social anxiety is scorned as "shyness" and this makes it even worse with a person with SA. Plus a lot of people don't see the anxiety that you have. They just see you "acting shy". A lot of parents see it that way too and they don't understand that the person exhibiting these symptoms are experiencing anxiety.

[sasharodriguez]

I wish my parents knew more about this when I was a kid. I was always told I was just shy, and my parents would often force me to do things I didn't want to do because I was "just shy" and just needed a push. I remember my first day at a new school, I was crying because I didn't know where to go and was too scared to ask. A teacher eventually saw me and helped me, but I could barely even talk because I was so scared. I have lots of memories like that. I couldn't ever order food for myself at a restruant or fast food place because I was too scared. Would never ask questions in class because I was nervous. I was embarassed to be different at all, even owning generic brand school supplies was so embarassing.

Now in my mid 20's im realizing I probably had anxiety and I wish my parents helped me differently rather than hoping exposure would fix everything. I still struggle today.

[AdrienneJung.M]

TWO THINGS: Customer Service and Ballroom Dancing. I used to have crippling social anxiety but the things that helped me break out of that were formalized/scripted social situations. Mainly, customer service jobs (barista and bank teller) and ballroom dance classes. Because there is a script or dance to follow, the element of uncertainty that triggers anxiety is minimized. The focus was not on me but on learning and following the patterns. Little by little as I became more comfortable and confident with these scripted interactions, I could go off script and be candid and natural. These things were total game changers for me.

[jakequaza]

Is it still social anxiety if i’m not really afraid of other people judging me but more i just don’t really know what to do with myself or act in social situations? And this in turn causes me anxiety because i have no idea if what i’m doing is considered somehow wrong

[deborahoputa]

When I was little I was the most vibrant of all my siblings but now I am very shy but not socially anxious because when I heard that if you're shy you'll just have trouble meeting new people, but when you get to know them you don't really worry about how you look or adding to the conversation bcos you're already used to them. Just like on the first day of school or on the first day of a new job your a little anxious but it wears out after some days and you get comfortable with everyone and everything but socially anxiety not the case.
Sometimes people also tend to think that being an introvert also means being shy but it isn't always the case, you just enjoy your alone time and do not like being in a crowd of people conversing, you just prefer one on one meaningful conversations and do more thinking than speaking .
Sometimes people can be shy and introverted.

[ruthzewdewoldeamanuel]

Last week everyone in my class was divided in groups for a project and I ended up in a group of two.
Then i wanted to start a conversation by asking her question and I sat there for like 20-30 minutes just to ask her one single question!

[akaunderdog]

Is it me or this guy has magnetic personality?
Thanks for the new video on anxiety.

[poni_poki]

I call myself shy because it’s easier to explain and hide behind. My social anxiety is a part of my moral OCD because I’m so afraid of doing wrong things or hurting people deeply, so I’m scared to interact with people at all. It runs my life and I don’t make friends easily. But my shyness and introversion are traits I embrace. It’s kind of hard to tell how far I can push my natural personality before it becomes social anxiety avoidance.

[redditsource]

I have terrible social anxiety, and will actually go way out of my way to avoid unwanted social situations.

[harukoneko]

Hey, I appreciate your videos a lot! They’ve been helping me out a lot recently. Thank you so much and keep up the good work! 👍🌟

[Sabrinaa]

Thank you so much for this explanation! I am a really shy person and I am also an introvert. For years I thought that for this reasons, I wasn't able to live my life like I wanted and that it was completely normal. I can't make friends or conversations easily, if I am anxious in a certain situation, I will probably avoid it in the future and I tend not to be comfortable around people I have known for years... I just feel like I am boring, I will have nothing to say and they probably prefer to spend their time with someone else. I still don't know if I suffer from social anxiety or I am just a really shy and awkward person lol but this video made me realized a lot of things which I didn't consider. Thanks!! :)

[zakirhusenraja]

Nicely Distinguish Shyness and Social anxiety Love you bro👍

[aniketsingh]

I get social anxiety specifically when I have to perform a physical task or give a presentation, we don't have a toastmaster or something so how should I improve at these things ??

[evaprebil]

Im shy
Whenever I need to speak to someone I get out of breath, my whole body starts to shake, I forget how to make sentences and I make up a scenario in my head But than I forget how and what am i supposed to say
And I dont really think its gonna go away by me being like that my whole life

[nurbutthe]

idk if its shyness or social anxiety but it feels like shit and i cant take it anymore

[parkerd]

Can this be a spectrum, because in certain situations I’m so scared of judgment from people that I just won’t talk, and sometimes I feel like I begin to act differently. I’m always really nervous that someone is judging me, but I’m an outgoing person. It’s confusing😔

[shrijandahal]

I just don't understand if I am shy or social anxious...
I really don't mind meeting new people but I just act differently when there's people around me ....I really don't know wheather to speak or not...I usually tend to remain quiet..I just become a robot in front of new people having no expressions or any thought...I just don't want to be watched at heard by people ...Whenever I am in spotlight I become conscious
Help me out please