Often, it is hard to spot social anxiety disorder - even for the person who has it. Some people who have social anxiety can appear to be very outgoing. They might even be the life of the party - or at least it may seem that way. Some people deal with their social anxiety by drawing into themselves and avoiding the interaction. Others deal with social anxiety by going outward, and they seem to be the life of every party.

Would you believe me if I told you that Jerry Seinfeld suffers from social anxiety disorder? He is quite funny. He’s a stand up comic, and he had one of the longest running sitcoms on television - but he still suffers from social anxiety. He confronts it by being funny.

People with social anxiety don’t generally draw attention to themselves, but those who do draw attention to themselves do so in a way that makes people laugh. These people look at it like they are going to be watched and judged anyway, so why not give people something to watch. Instead of laughing at me, it can seem like they are laughing with me, because I am funny.

Some people who suffer from social anxiety aren’t actually drawing attention to themselves because they are funny. If you are in a social gathering with the same small group of people over and over again, pay attention to what everyone is doing. Is there one who arrives at the gathering who appears to have already had a few drinks? Does that person continue to drink throughout the event? That could be alcoholism, but it could also be social anxiety. In order for that person to function normally - in their opinion - they must drink to build up their confidence and ‘loosen up’ enough to deal with the social interaction.

You should also note that there is a difference between naturally being funny and attracting attention and trying to be funny and attract attention. Often, people with social anxiety fall into the second group - they are trying to be funny, but not necessarily trying to attract attention. They feel that if they can put the attention on their jokes, instead of themselves, they can deal with the social interaction more easily.

There are people out there who have social anxiety that you never would have guessed had it. Jerry Seinfeld is just one. Other famous, seemingly outgoing people who suffer from social anxiety disorder include Kim Basinger, Donny Osmond, Barbara Streisand, Sir Laurence Olivier, Susie O’Neill, Rebecca Gibney, Gary McDonald, and Simon Palomares.

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