A Study Of Social Anxiety Disorder And Simple Shyness
The Fine Line between Social Anxiety Disorders & Shyness
Do you have ever felt nervous when speaking in front of people? It’s likely. Have you ever felt so anxious about the task that you avoided meeting people or didn’t show up for the presentation? SAD, or social anxiety disorder, may be a diagnosis. SAD can often be misdiagnosed as shyness. The difference between the two can be made easily. SAD can lead to a life of anxiety and can even cause it to stop (Shaw).
An estimated 19.2 Million Americans are affected by social anxiety disorder. SAD refers to an anxiety disorder where a person is afraid of social situations in an unreasonable way. Anxiety, which can be described as intense nervousness, and self-consciousness, are caused by a fear that others will judge, criticize, and punish you. SAD sufferers often have anxiety that is referred to as ‘anticipatory.’ This is when they are afraid of what might happen. It can last for days or weeks. SAD is more common in females than in men. Although it’s most prevalent in early adulthood or adolescence, it can also manifest in early childhood. Many people don’t know that SAD exists. They often confuse it with shyness. SAD is a form of shyness, which is not the same as SAD. It refers to a fear or discomfort that people cause, especially when they are in unfamiliar situations. Shelly-Jensen says that 10% of Americans are shy. As stated previously, shyness is more often experienced in social situations that are new than when it occurs with people like friends and coworkers. SAD can make simple conversations with familiar people nerve-wracking. SAD is much less common than shyness here in the U.S. But it is more serious and deserves to be recognized. SAD is more than being uncomfortable in social situations like being in front of others or in the centre of attention. SAD sufferers also have trouble with eating, drinking, writing, and giving reports to others. They may also experience anxiety about using public toilets, talking on the phone, and asking questions. While anxiety does decrease when people are away from stressful situations, those with SAD often worry about their “faults and mistakes” in their daily lives. SAD is often a condition in which people are conscious that their anxiety and fear are unfounded. However, they still struggle with overcoming it. SAD symptoms include anxiety and behavior. A panic attack is a sudden feeling of terror or panic that strikes without warning. Social situations like school and parties can make shy people feel uncomfortable around others. However, they don’t usually experience the extreme anxiety that someone with social anxiety disorder experiences. A person who is shy does not feel constant fear, unlike those with SAD. Because they worry about being rejected or judged, shy people might have difficulty “speaking to people or sharing their opinions with others” (Everett). They might be reluctant to approach people or ask for directions, because they might stutter or have a low voice. The shy person may feel “blushing, tense, feel [their] heart racing, or even feel shaky and nauseous.” (Everett). While they share many symptoms and may experience similar feelings, it is important to distinguish between temporary discomfort from shyness or constant fear of socializing because of SAD.
There are two distinct types of SAD: shyness and stuttering. SAD can be caused by many factors. SAD may be caused by physical abnormalities such as serotonin insufficiency or overactive amygdala. This can happen in families. “Serotonin, a chemical found in the brain that regulates mood,” and amygdala are “structures in the brain that control fear response and thoughts or anxiety” (Higuera). SAD may be caused by psychological damage such as family conflict, bullying, sexual abuse, and family conflict. Social anxiety disorder can be caused by learned behaviors. You may become anxious after seeing others display the same anxiety. Mayo Clinic says that parents who are more concerned about their children’s welfare and have a higher risk of developing social anxiety disorder could also be at risk. SAD is a disorder that causes shyness due to environmental and biological factors. According to statistics, 15% of infants are born with shyness traits. Research has also shown that shy people have different brains (Heitz). Children may become shy if they have had negative experiences in social situations. Children who are not allowed to have experiences with others may have trouble learning the skills necessary for managing social situations. It is possible for children to mimic the behavior of their shy parents (Heitz). There are many factors that can cause shyness, including in childhood and adolescence. People may also develop shyness after adulthood. While both SAD (shyness) and SAD can occur in negative environments, SAD has more severe conditions.
SAD or shyness can cause serious and long-lasting problems. SAD and shyness can lead to problems in emotional development. Children who are not socially skilled may have trouble making and keeping friends. Zolten & Long. Children who avoid social situations could become isolated and fearful. Others may mistake shy people for arrogant, disinterested, or aloof. This can lead to isolation. Zolten & Long state that many shy children struggle to assert themselves and are often made to feel bad by their peers or forced to do things they don’t like (Zolten & Long). Shy children struggle to express their feelings and assert themselves. They often have difficulty expressing themselves properly, and are known to hold on to their emotions (Zolten-Long). Shy people can also have academic problems. Shy children often resist asking for help from teachers, so questions that shy children might have may not be answered (Zolten & Long). A person with social anxiety disorder (Social anxiety Disorder) can have a negative impact on their daily routines, such as work, school, and personal relationships. SAD can result in children refusing to attend school, delayed arrivals, tearful morning drop-offs and tantrums. SAD could also lead to children having trouble concentrating at school due to constant worry. SAD adults often have unhappy jobs or are unable to do their best at work. SAD is particularly stressful when it comes to job interviews. Interviewers fear that they will be funny, hesitant, and even blushing during the interview. Worst, they fear they will say the wrong thing. Anxiety and Stress at Workplace. SAD patients are usually not antisocial. They are often paralyzed (Richards). Anxiety Disorders Association of America conducted a survey regarding social anxiety in 2008. The results revealed that 90% of people who have it had reported that it negatively affected their relationships. The survey revealed that 55% of people with SAD had no friends, 66% had misunderstandings with their friends, 60% didn’t answer their phones or keep in touch, 35% said they were unable to communicate with friends and 40% said their disorder led them to avoid intimacy. Additionally, 24% said their spouse did not respect their SAD. “Depression and suicidal ideas [can] occur if [people] believe that there is no way to lower their symptoms.” (Social Phobia (Social Anxiety disorder). If a person is suffering from a mental disorder, it’s unlikely they will be able to become so shy. Although the negative effects of shyness on someone are quite significant, they are not as severe as those that can be caused by SAD.
Social anxiety disorder is a condition that affects people who are naturally shy. They are distinct conditions. Social anxiety disorder, also known as shyness, is “having or showing nervousness or timidity when in the company or people around you” (Google Search). They may share some symptoms, but they do not necessarily have the same emotions. SAD and Shyness, for example, have different causes. SAD can cause more distress than shyness. Knowing the difference between SAD/shyness is vital to avoid years of uncertainty and anguish.
