Just Shy? Or Something More?

“Oh, you are just shy.” Are you sick and tired of hearing that? Are you wondering what is wrong with you? Do you feel like no one understands? You are not alone!

I lived with “shyness” all my life. Everyone told me to just “get over it.” I wanted to scream! Something is wrong with me! I can't just get over it!

Then I got older. The problem with my “shyness” got worse. Other symptoms started to arise. Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and many others.

If you are still wondering if you are just shy, or if it is something more like social anxiety or social phobia, maybe this will help.

• Do you worry for days, weeks, months about an event you have to attend?
• Do you immediately start coming up with excuses not to attend an event?
• Do you have an extreme fear of being judged by others?
• Do you have extreme fear of talking to strangers?
• Do you find it extremely hard to post in forums, newsgroups, use an instant messenger, or any form of conversation online?
• Do you find it almost impossible to use the phone?
• Do you panic when someone knocks on your door? Do you even get nausious and not answer it?
• Do you avoid going to the store?

Some of these you may do, some you may not, and there may be other things you do or avoid that is not on this list. It should give you some points to ponder.

Notice a couple of key words in the examples above. Extreme and Avoid.

Someone who is shy may blush when meeting someone new. Someone with social anxiety may also blush when meeting someone new. However, this person may also feel nauseous, light headed, and tremble. Their heart might race, they may sweat excessively, their mouth and throat may get extremely dry, they may have panic feelings and want to find the nearest exit.

If this post helps just one person, I will be glad. If you want to talk, I'm hear to listen. Trust me, you are safe, I know exactly what you are going through.

Until next time...