Social Anxiety - How do you know if you have it?

Hi @deerniicsae

If you're unsure if you have social anxiety or not, I'd suggest that you educate yourself on social anxiety. There are tons of articles about soocial anxiety, shyness and the difference between the two. That way you'll find it easier to determine whether or not it's something that you suffer from. If it is something that you find to be a concern of yours --thinking it might be possible that you have social anxiety, I would suggest that you converse with your doctor.

Here are some of my keypoints:

- Many people who are shy do not have the negative emotions and feelings that accompany social anxiety disorder.

- While many people with social anxiety disorder are shy, shyness is not a pre-requisite for social anxiety disorder.

- Being shy can complicate your life. Having social phobia can stop it in its tracks. (Shyness is "your way". Social anxiety gets in your way.)

- (Like @JessSnow said:) The main indicator of social anxiety disorder is that it causes impairment in your function --it starts interfering with daily aspests of your life.

- Shyness makes it harder to talk to people you don't know, but not impossible.

- Anxiety is severe, an extreme version of shyness, and may even cause panic attacks.

- Thinking about a social function causes anxiety, even before you're there.

I guess when it starts to be a problem to do everyday things it's when it crosses the line between shy or nervous to social anxiety.