Shyness or Social Anxiety?
Most people who have heard of social anxiety, and understand what it is, mistakenly believe that shyness is the same thing as social anxiety. Other’s who have not heard much about social anxiety, also don’t realize that there is a difference between being shy and suffering from social anxiety. Just because someone is shy does not mean that they have social anxiety, and just because a person has social anxiety does not mean that they are shy.
A person can be a little shy - simply because they are shy. People who are simply shy do not suffer from intense fear like people who have social anxiety do. Shy people are still able to interact socially. They may be a little nervous, and they may blush. They may be quieter than other people typically are - but they do not suffer from social anxiety.
Social anxiety on the other hand causes intense fear that does not allow people to function normally in social interactions or situations. Shy people do not typically avoid social situations, whereas people with social anxiety disorder almost always try to avoid social interactions and situations.
People who have social anxiety are not necessarily shy either. Once social anxiety has been effectively treated, and the person is able to interact socially without fear, they do not blush, they are not typically quieter than other people, and they don’t have any nervousness that anyone else would not experience depending on the social situation - such as public speaking, asking someone out on a date, or interviewing for a job.
The truest test to differentiate between shyness and social anxiety is the level of fear that is experienced. As stated, the level of fear that someone with social anxiety experiences can be absolutely debilitating. A person who is simply shy would not experience this fear, just as they typically do not experience the symptoms of social anxiety which include: rapid heartbeat, tremors, sweating, diarrhea, confusion, nausea, difficulty talking, muscle tension, dry throat, dry mouth, muscle twitches, dizziness, shortness of breath, feelings of smothering, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and paleness. The only physical symptom that shy people and people with social anxiety share is blushing.
Children with social anxiety often act out by crying or throwing tantrums. Children are often shy - but it doesn’t mean that they have social anxiety. The best thing to do with shy children, to avoid turning their natural shyness into social anxiety is not to pay any heed to the shyness. Don’t point it out to the child, or to other people. Most children outgrow shyness on their own. Social anxiety is not outgrown, and in most cases becomes more severe as time passes.
