Social Anxiety Support

jesus is my savior · 08-03-2011, 10:23 PM

Just because I registered for this site due to the comfort of knowing there are others out there like me, it doesn't mean I have a problem and need therapy, right?

And anyway, God made me this way, and has a far greater purpose for me...

laura024 · 08-03-2011, 10:30 PM

Well the lines can be blurred sometimes, but ultimately there is a distinction between being shy and having a bigger problem. You don't have to need therapy or whatever to post here.

Madelyn · 08-05-2011, 02:16 PM

The why I see it is, shyness is more of a personality type. Like someone is more of a reserved and timid person. But, social anxiety is not a personality trait, it's anxiety that inhibits behavior. If you have social anxiety you may "act" shy, but you may be a loud and talkative person to those you feel comfortable with and it is the anxiety that prevents this reflection of personality. God doesn't give people social anxiety. He wants his children to be brave and strong because he offers us the highest protection. If you are shy though, then that is more of an ingrained character type rather than something that needs changing. Some are shy, some are outgoing, both are perfectly normal.

jesus is my savior · 08-08-2011, 08:22 PM

The thing that's scaring me is, you described me dead on.

Madelyn · 08-09-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesus is my savior

The thing that's scaring me is, you described me dead on.

what? about having social anxiety or being shy? Either way it's nothing to be scared of. The only way to change is to understand the why you are and be proactive about finding a way to heal or cope.

jesus is my savior · 08-10-2011, 10:21 AM

I just don't want to hear I have some kind of diagnosis.

Madelyn · 08-11-2011, 07:50 AM

[QUOTE=jesus is my savior;1059212416]I just don't want to hear I have some kind of diagnosis.[/QUOTE

well, you can't be diagnosed over the internet.

behappy621 · 08-14-2011, 06:21 AM

Yeah I'm not sure if I'm shy or socially anxious either. After researching the disorder, I found that some people have it a lot worse than compared to how I am. So after that I just start to think I'm shy. But then when I go to school, I feel like a complete freak, and I feel like I have social anxiety because everyone else is so different from me.

nescio · 08-14-2011, 12:52 PM

There is indeed a very fine line between shyness and social anxiety. I have no idea to which category I belong, but I do have my own thesis.

As Madelyn said SA means that anxiety stops you from doing what you want. this means you want to talk in the first place, maybe not outgoing but you do want to be more involved in your surroundings.

On the other hand if you don't want to talk in the first place, then there is actually nothing wrong with you, it's just a personality trait.

If being shy means that you can't do what you want to do then therapy and treatment can be considered. It doesn't necessarily mean you have S.A.D, but it might be a point for improvement in your life.

08-03-2011, 10:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
jesus is my savior Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Gender: Female Posts: 84	The line between "shy quietness" and "social anxiety" is thin? Just because I registered for this site due to the comfort of knowing there are others out there like me, it doesn't mean I have a problem and need therapy, right? And anyway, God made me this way, and has a far greater purpose for me...

08-10-2011, 10:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
jesus is my savior Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Gender: Female Posts: 84	I just don't want to hear I have some kind of diagnosis. __________________ "We must not please men but God!" -Galatians 1:10 "If you build a man a fire, you can keep him warm for a night. If you set a man afire, you can keep him warm for life." - Mother Teresa

08-14-2011, 12:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
nescio Status: 1.e4 Your turn. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: As far away as possible Gender: Male Age: 18 Posts: 108	There is indeed a very fine line between shyness and social anxiety. I have no idea to which category I belong, but I do have my own thesis. As Madelyn said SA means that anxiety stops you from doing what you want. this means you want to talk in the first place, maybe not outgoing but you do want to be more involved in your surroundings. On the other hand if you don't want to talk in the first place, then there is actually nothing wrong with you, it's just a personality trait. If being shy means that you can't do what you want to do then therapy and treatment can be considered. It doesn't necessarily mean you have S.A.D, but it might be a point for improvement in your life. __________________ "I can't count the reasons I should stay, one by one they all just fade away."

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
"Shy" or "Introverted" -- Which is a more positive adjective to describe yourself?	IcedOver	Coping With Social Anxiety	47	02-07-2012 10:41 PM
Peggy Rae, 89, "Dukes of Hazzard", "Step by Step", "Grace Under Fire"	millenniumman75	30+ Members	1	02-12-2011 05:33 PM
"Painfully Shy: how to overcome social anxiety and reclaim your life"	SourD	Self Help Resources	7	06-19-2010 08:29 AM
What is the difference between "Shy" and "SA-not-the-disorder?"	Banzai	Coping With Social Anxiety	5	12-26-2009 04:39 PM
Release Date: "Death Race", "Street Fighter", "Alvin 2"	TorLin	Entertainment	4	08-30-2008 05:36 PM

08-03-2011, 10:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
laura024 Status: Pro-intellectualism Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ohio Gender: Female Age: 22 Posts: 7,798	Well the lines can be blurred sometimes, but ultimately there is a distinction between being shy and having a bigger problem. You don't have to need therapy or whatever to post here.

08-05-2011, 02:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Madelyn Status: SAS Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Nowhereville, USA Gender: Female Posts: 140	The why I see it is, shyness is more of a personality type. Like someone is more of a reserved and timid person. But, social anxiety is not a personality trait, it's anxiety that inhibits behavior. If you have social anxiety you may "act" shy, but you may be a loud and talkative person to those you feel comfortable with and it is the anxiety that prevents this reflection of personality. God doesn't give people social anxiety. He wants his children to be brave and strong because he offers us the highest protection. If you are shy though, then that is more of an ingrained character type rather than something that needs changing. Some are shy, some are outgoing, both are perfectly normal.

08-08-2011, 08:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
jesus is my savior Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Gender: Female Posts: 84	The thing that's scaring me is, you described me dead on.

08-11-2011, 07:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
Madelyn Status: SAS Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Nowhereville, USA Gender: Female Posts: 140	[QUOTE=jesus is my savior;1059212416]I just don't want to hear I have some kind of diagnosis.[/QUOTE well, you can't be diagnosed over the internet.

08-14-2011, 06:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
behappy621 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Massachusetts, USA Gender: Female Age: 14 Posts: 23	Yeah I'm not sure if I'm shy or socially anxious either. After researching the disorder, I found that some people have it a lot worse than compared to how I am. So after that I just start to think I'm shy. But then when I go to school, I feel like a complete freak, and I feel like I have social anxiety because everyone else is so different from me.