Social Anxiety Support

Raptors · 11-04-2009, 06:53 AM

I'm wondering whether or not SA = introversion? Are most of you with SA also introverted? btw, heres an interesting read

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200303/rauch

Deathinmusic · 11-04-2009, 07:02 AM

I think people with SA tend to be more introverted, but social anxiety doesn't mean the same as introversion.

There's some pretty good info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrave...d_introversion

rcapo89 · 11-04-2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptors

I'm wondering whether or not SA = introversion? Are most of you with SA also introverted? btw, heres an interesting readhttp://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200303/rauch

Well according to the article introverts don't have to have SA. In fact you get the sense that most introverts are NOT shy but just misunderstood, and percieved by extroverts as socialy awkward and different.

djr86 · 11-04-2009, 07:33 AM

I think my SA gives the appearance that I am introverted; however, I do like to be around ppl most of the time and do like to talk, unfortunatley, my SA prevents me from doing this most of the time. I actually hate being alone though. Of course everyone including myself does enjoy some alone time to take a walk and think etc...I think this is natural...its called autonomy I believe.

tutliputli · 11-04-2009, 07:35 AM

Very much so. I find it interesting that certain people can be very introverted but never develop SA (not that it's inevitable). A nurse once told me about a friend of hers, who was extremely introverted and if he said even just a sentence when they were together, that was him being sociable! I guess it's all about how comfortable you are with being that way. It sounded like the guy didn't really care what others thought of him. My boyfriend's dad is very introverted but seems totally comfortable with it and doesn't have any trouble being around people. He talks when he feels like it but is generally pretty quiet and occupies himself with other things instead of socialising.

pixies · 11-04-2009, 07:42 AM

I think I understand myself pretty well, but I have no idea about this. When I was younger, before I got full on social anxiety, I was vaguely socially anxious, and yet I could be a complete extrovert. I remember on a school tip, I can't remember what the context was but someone said something and I jumped up on a chair and burst in to song, singing LAAA LAALALAAA! or something, and everyone burst out laughing, which was my intention. Then I sat down all smug at making people laugh. To me that is not something an introvert would do, but I'm not sure.

Years later when I got a bit more socially anxious, I was living in a house full of people all sharing the rent. I was able to socialise with them just fine, but I was quiet and I kept to myself, and I rarely brought friends round from outside the house. One of the girls in the house was kind of analysing me one day and she said I was introverted. It took me by surprise.

Now I have no idea what I am now, and what the real me is.

letitrock · 11-04-2009, 09:50 AM

duh

Of course I'm introverted

BUT, like the others have said, introversion is not the same as SA

Toad Licker · 11-04-2009, 11:34 AM

I'm very introverted, always have been.

Prakas · 11-04-2009, 11:43 AM

We did this activity in my psych. class last month. I was rated a 4 on a scale of 0-20. 0 Being introverted and 20 being extroverted. I kept it to myself, most of my classmates were in the middle.

zonker1 · 11-04-2009, 11:43 AM

Introverted here bigtime..

Haydsmom2007 · 11-04-2009, 01:38 PM

Yes. Even if I get over my shyness... I think I will always be introverted. It's just who I am. Even with people I'm comfortable with, I'm just not one of those people who always have to be talking. I like comfortable silences. I went on a date one time with this much older guy, who seems to be very personable, outgoing, makes friends easily, etc. He told me that I was great company and he loved how I didn't always feel the need to be blabbing about something and our silences in conversation were always very comfortable. Being introverted isn't a bad thing, having SA is.

Haydsmom2007 · 11-04-2009, 01:40 PM

And also, I believe some people with social anxiety are extroverts inside an introverts body, so-to-speak. Like they would be outgoing and let loose if only they didn't have the anxiety. If I get over this shyness... I don't think I'd be completely one way or the other. There are times when I can be a social butterfly and other times I like to just keep to myself.

its_a_rick · 11-04-2009, 01:41 PM

Yea I consider myself to be an introvert, as Haydsmom2007 said, I don't feel the need to talk all the time and I'm perfectly fine being by myself a lot.

letitrock · 11-04-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haydsmom2007

And also, I believe some people with social anxiety are extroverts inside an introverts body, so-to-speak.

Yeah, I totally agree with that

It reminds me of this great thread on here like months ago-The thread starter talked in a nutshell, about his theory that Social Anxiety could be caused by being too awesome.

It's like us SAers have really amazing personalities/out there personalities/extroverted personalities and us being so cool and different makes us feel self conscious cuz our think differently from everyone else

Of course, there are still other things that contribute to SA like upbringing, our experiences, but I also think that having extroverted/unique personalities also can contribute to anxiety cuz we feel like outcasts or whatver-I know there's some truth to that for my own anxiety

Akira90125 · 11-04-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by letitrock

duh

Of course I'm introverted

It's not a dumb question. While people with social anxiety do tend to be introverted, some with SA can be extroverted and can in fact suffer a lot more than the introverted ones because introverts get their energy from within while extroverts get their energy from other people.

FakeFur · 11-04-2009, 06:51 PM

I feel like I'm extroverted on the inside. I often do prefer to be with people over being by myself, but of course my SA prevents that from happening most of the time. Despite how I would like things to be, I'm always alone.

wineandcheese · 11-04-2009, 07:48 PM

I don't think they're mutually exclusive. For me though I am introverted in that I don't mind not being surrounded by people but I like having a couple people to confide in. But I do have SA for those times when I do have to deal with people.

amarie · 11-04-2009, 07:57 PM

I'm deffinately an introvert. Especially when it comes to the whole "lost in thought" thing.

sky is falling · 11-04-2009, 10:09 PM

I'm a introverted person. Just like many have said even if I didn't have SA, I would still spend a lot of time to myself. I love it, peaceful silence, and just thinking or not thinking about anything or being bothered by people.

11-04-2009, 06:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Raptors Status: dreamin Join Date: Aug 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 123	Are you introverted? I'm wondering whether or not SA = introversion? Are most of you with SA also introverted? btw, heres an interesting read http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200303/rauch

11-04-2009, 07:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
djr86 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Southern Maryland Gender: Male Posts: 89	I think my SA gives the appearance that I am introverted; however, I do like to be around ppl most of the time and do like to talk, unfortunatley, my SA prevents me from doing this most of the time. I actually hate being alone though. Of course everyone including myself does enjoy some alone time to take a walk and think etc...I think this is natural...its called autonomy I believe. __________________ When all is said and done, there's usually more said than done. Learn to like your self, because you're one person you can't get away from.

11-04-2009, 07:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
tutliputli Status: electric lady Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: England, UK Gender: Female Age: 23 Posts: 578	Very much so. I find it interesting that certain people can be very introverted but never develop SA (not that it's inevitable). A nurse once told me about a friend of hers, who was extremely introverted and if he said even just a sentence when they were together, that was him being sociable! I guess it's all about how comfortable you are with being that way. It sounded like the guy didn't really care what others thought of him. My boyfriend's dad is very introverted but seems totally comfortable with it and doesn't have any trouble being around people. He talks when he feels like it but is generally pretty quiet and occupies himself with other things instead of socialising. __________________ Why leave me hanging on a star when you deem me so high?

11-04-2009, 11:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Toad Licker Status: Broken Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: A Fruitloop Daydream Gender: Male Age: 44 Posts: 29,632	I'm very introverted, always have been. __________________ All will wither, go to sleep The ones you love you may not keep All you touch will fall apart The dreams you kill will break your heart There's no mercy, there's no rest The void will scream within your chest No one knows and no one will So leave this place that makes you Ill - Madder Mortem

11-04-2009, 01:41 PM	#13 (permalink)
its_a_rick Status: So tired... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Netherlands Gender: Male Age: 20 Posts: 214	Yea I consider myself to be an introvert, as Haydsmom2007 said, I don't feel the need to talk all the time and I'm perfectly fine being by myself a lot. __________________ Yummy... boredom.

11-04-2009, 07:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deathinmusic Status: SAD Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Gender: Male Age: 30 Posts: 49	I think people with SA tend to be more introverted, but social anxiety doesn't mean the same as introversion. There's some pretty good info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrave...d_introversion

11-04-2009, 07:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
pixies Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: England, UK Gender: Male Posts: 144	I think I understand myself pretty well, but I have no idea about this. When I was younger, before I got full on social anxiety, I was vaguely socially anxious, and yet I could be a complete extrovert. I remember on a school tip, I can't remember what the context was but someone said something and I jumped up on a chair and burst in to song, singing LAAA LAALALAAA! or something, and everyone burst out laughing, which was my intention. Then I sat down all smug at making people laugh. To me that is not something an introvert would do, but I'm not sure. Years later when I got a bit more socially anxious, I was living in a house full of people all sharing the rent. I was able to socialise with them just fine, but I was quiet and I kept to myself, and I rarely brought friends round from outside the house. One of the girls in the house was kind of analysing me one day and she said I was introverted. It took me by surprise. Now I have no idea what I am now, and what the real me is.

11-04-2009, 09:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
letitrock Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MD's where I'm live;atlanta,ga for school Gender: Female Age: 21 Posts: 384	duh Of course I'm introverted BUT, like the others have said, introversion is not the same as SA

11-04-2009, 11:43 AM	#9 (permalink)
Prakas Status: Failure - Life Sucks Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Delaware Gender: Male Age: 21 Posts: 434	We did this activity in my psych. class last month. I was rated a 4 on a scale of 0-20. 0 Being introverted and 20 being extroverted. I kept it to myself, most of my classmates were in the middle.

11-04-2009, 11:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
zonker1 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ohio Gender: Male Posts: 8	Introverted here bigtime..

11-04-2009, 01:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
Haydsmom2007 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kansas City Gender: Female Age: 20 Posts: 198	Yes. Even if I get over my shyness... I think I will always be introverted. It's just who I am. Even with people I'm comfortable with, I'm just not one of those people who always have to be talking. I like comfortable silences. I went on a date one time with this much older guy, who seems to be very personable, outgoing, makes friends easily, etc. He told me that I was great company and he loved how I didn't always feel the need to be blabbing about something and our silences in conversation were always very comfortable. Being introverted isn't a bad thing, having SA is.

11-04-2009, 01:40 PM	#12 (permalink)
Haydsmom2007 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kansas City Gender: Female Age: 20 Posts: 198	And also, I believe some people with social anxiety are extroverts inside an introverts body, so-to-speak. Like they would be outgoing and let loose if only they didn't have the anxiety. If I get over this shyness... I don't think I'd be completely one way or the other. There are times when I can be a social butterfly and other times I like to just keep to myself.

11-04-2009, 06:51 PM	#16 (permalink)
FakeFur Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NY Gender: Female Age: 18 Posts: 44	I feel like I'm extroverted on the inside. I often do prefer to be with people over being by myself, but of course my SA prevents that from happening most of the time. Despite how I would like things to be, I'm always alone.

11-04-2009, 07:48 PM	#17 (permalink)
wineandcheese Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 69	I don't think they're mutually exclusive. For me though I am introverted in that I don't mind not being surrounded by people but I like having a couple people to confide in. But I do have SA for those times when I do have to deal with people.

11-04-2009, 07:57 PM	#18 (permalink)
amarie Status: AMarie Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Marietta, Ga Gender: Female Posts: 36	I'm deffinately an introvert. Especially when it comes to the whole "lost in thought" thing.

11-04-2009, 10:09 PM	#19 (permalink)
sky is falling Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: kentucky Gender: Male Posts: 10	I'm a introverted person. Just like many have said even if I didn't have SA, I would still spend a lot of time to myself. I love it, peaceful silence, and just thinking or not thinking about anything or being bothered by people.