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Do I Have Social Anxiety or Am I Just Shy? A Simple Guide To Figure It Out!

Modified on August 19, 2020 at 5:17 PM

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Are you trying to figure out the answer to, “Do I have social anxiety or am I just shy?” Read this article to learn more about the differences.

How do you cope in social situations?

Not everyone finds socializing easy. In fact, a lot of people hate the thought of meeting a group of people, sharing stories with strangers, or even playing games with friends.

If you get stressed out by these sorts of things, you’ve probably asked yourself do I have social anxiety or am I just shy?. Without knowing the facts, it can be hard to tell the difference between the two!

To learn more about the signs of social anxiety to work out exactly which category you fall into, take a look at this guide. 

What Is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) can get confused with shyness if you don’t know what it is. But SAD is much more complex than being a little quiet or introverted. It’s actually a psychiatric condition that can have a devastating impact on the lives of those living with it. 

Because social anxiety is so often confused with shyness, only around 50% of adults who have the disorder ever actually receive treatment. This is a terrible statistic and one that needs to change!

To start with, more people need to know this difference between shyness and social anxiety symptoms!

Social Anxiety Signs

Also known as social phobia, SAD can create very intense negative feelings around social situations. It affects everyday life, including relationships, careers, and your feelings towards yourself. Teens with social anxiety may find school very difficult, especially when it comes to participating in class, team activities, and making friends.

To work out whether you have it, here are some of the main signs of social anxiety:

  • You worry about simple social activities, such as going shopping, talking on the phone, and meeting strangers
  • You try to avoid social activities
  • You worry a lot about how you might embarrass yourself in a social situation
  • You feel like you’re being constantly watched and judged
  • You hate being criticized 
  • You avoid confrontation at all costs
  • You have very low self-esteem and little confidence
  • You’ll overthink the situation whilst you’re in it and be careful of what you say and do

Alongside these mental symptoms, there are also social anxiety physical symptoms. These include feeling nauseous, shaking, sweating, and feeling your heart pounding. You might also have panic attacks in social situations, which are episodes of intense fear and anxiety that have a lot of physical symptoms.

Social anxiety can also lead to other mental health issues, including generalized anxiety disorder and depression.  

Do I Have Social Anxiety or am I Just Shy?

When it comes down to whether you have social anxiety or shyness, some of the symptoms can be similar. But, there are ways to differentiate between the two.

If you have an intense fear of social situations, will do anything you can to avoid them, and find it’s affecting your day to day life negatively, and quite obviously, you most likely have a social anxiety disorder. 

As the social situation continues, a shy person may feel their fears lift. A person with SAD, however, won’t. Even if they realize they have nothing to worry about, they can’t control their emotions. 

When Should You Get Help?

If you think you have a social anxiety disorder, it’s so important that you get help for it! If you don’t, you may find your condition worsening and continuously affecting your life. When you don’t even want to go to work just to avoid people, it might be time to consider alternative career paths for introverts.

Even if you’re not 100% sure, it’s best to visit a doctor or psychiatrist. They can take a look at how you’re feeling and properly diagnose you. Once you have a diagnosis, you can start taking steps to deal with your social anxiety disorder and take control of your life.

social anxiety

Is There Anything You Can Do Now?

There are ways you can try to ease the symptoms of SAD on your own, but these work best alongside professional care. These self-care coping mechanisms can be a great way to start moving your life forward, though, so whilst you wait to see a mental health specialist start practising these techniques.

Understand Your Anxiety

The root cause of your anxiety can be complex. Try to dig deep within your emotions to work out what happens in your mind during situations that cause you anxiety. It can help to write these down and keep a journal of your feelings and symptoms.

Learn Relaxation Techniques

Learning to calm down your mind and heart could help alleviate that fight or flight feeling anxiety brings about. Activities such as meditation, yoga, and even simple breathing exercises can help. 

Break Down Social Situations

If you look at a social situation in small parts, it can become easier to manage. For example, if you have to go shopping, write down each part that worries you and some coping mechanisms to help. Over time, you’ll start to feel more relaxed with some parts and find the whole situation easier. 

Try to Focus on Reality

It’s easy to get wrapped up in your own thoughts when you have social anxiety. Try to bring yourself back to reality and focus on what’s going on around you.

Is anyone laughing at you, talking about you, or even paying attention to you? Is there anything going on here that’s actually putting you in danger? Asking yourself these questions can help you rationalize your feelings and calm your mind.

The Start of Your Journey

Do I have social anxiety or am I just shy? It isn’t always an easy question to answer, but once you work it out you can work on getting help and growing confidence. This is the start of your journey, but by taking this step you’ve already done a lot of the work!

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to take a look at more on our website. We discuss everything from mental health to relationship advice, so be sure to have a good browse!

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Posted By The Fashionable Housewife
on August 19, 2020 at 5:17 PM
Filed Under: Health & Fitness
Tagged With: anxiety, anxiety disorder, depression, mental health, SAD, shyness, social anxiety, social anxiety disorder

About The Fashionable Housewife

Sarah-Jean Ballard is the Editor in Chief of The Fashionable Housewife blog and Founder of Fashionable Media. Married to a sexy Molecular Biologist, housewife, mom to 5, homeschooler, Certified Personal Nutritionist and entrepreneur who's mission is to help moms just like you look and feel GREAT! Other interests include dancing, yoga, positive intactivism, natural birth and breastfeeding support, babywearing, paleo & gluten-free cooking, and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle to all.

Disclaimer

The Fashionable Housewife is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for blogs and websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also participate in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission on purchases made through our links. There is no extra cost to you! For more info, please see our Disclosure & Privacy Policy.

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Sarah-Jean Ballard

Hi! I’m Sarah-Jean. I’m a Christian, the wife of a handsome Molecular Biologist, and the homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids!

I enjoy homesteading, reading, writing, cooking, baking, crafting, home decorating, Xtend Barre, and of course, fashion!

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𝕊𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕙 | Fashionable Homemaker & Mom of 5
Looking at pictures of my last birth makes me grie Looking at pictures of my last birth makes me grieve my baby in Heaven that I just lost a few weeks ago. 

Knowing all the firsts we won’t be getting. All the newborn snuggles, that new baby smell, the joy of breastfeeding, it’s all gone. Slipped through my fingers in a moment, for no reason. 

No one thinks it will ever happen to them. Nothing prepares you for the loss of your child and no one can fully understand and appreciate the intense level of grief and pain until it happens to you. And if you do not understand this kind of grief, consider yourself very, very blessed and fortunate. 

Sometimes being open to life, also means being open to loss. 💔

#miscarriage #miscarriagesupport #miscarriageawareness #lossmom
READ this post before you LIKE it. 💔💔💔 A READ this post before you LIKE it. 💔💔💔

A few weeks ago, we were planning to announce that baby #6 would be joining our crew in January 2023, but instead we've been processing the death of our beloved child... 

At our 20 week anatomy scan, when we were joyfully expecting to see what our little babe looked like, we were met the words that will haunt us forever - "We can't find a heartbeat."

Two days later, we found ourselves in a foreign environment, after 5 beautiful homebirths, naturally delivering our stillborn son in a hospital. 

Dylan Marinus Ballard was born on August 31st, (our first son's birthday) at 6:43pm and weighing only 7.5 oz. 

Tearfully and filled with grief beyond words, we had to say hello and goodbye at the same time. Our beautiful son. 

Seeing his face, holding his tiny body, and admiring his little toes that looked just like daddy's was just a glimpse into the miracle of life that God allows us to partake in. When you fully realize the sanctity of human life, it makes it even harder to say goodbye. Not being able to take my baby home with me was the most gut wrenching, heartbreaking pain imaginable. It is a pain unlike all others that only mothers who have lost a child can even begin to understand. 

The hardest part of losing a child, is living everyday afterwards. It's such a devastating loss, a loss so unimaginable, that you have no idea how you will get through each day or survive the grief that is in your heart. No matter what age a child is, a parent's heart is forever tied to that child and there's nothing that will break that tie, including the passing of time. That's the beauty of unconditional love. 

Our only consolation is knowing that our little saint is in the loving arms of Jesus now. We look forward to meeting him in Heaven someday.

📷 birth photography by Melissa Lee Photography

#griefjourney #griefandloss #miscarriage #miscarriageawareness #griefawareness #griefislove #itsokaynottobeokay #largefamily #largefamilymom #bigfamily #bigfamilylife #lossmom #pregnancyloss #momlife #pregnancylossawareness #stillbirth #stillborn #stillbornstillloved #stillbornawareness #babyloss #miscarriagemomma #bereavedparents #lossmoms
Some of my favorite fall eats here! 😋 What ar Some of my favorite fall eats here! 😋 

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Need an easy solution for dinner but don’t want Need an easy solution for dinner but don’t want fast food? @wildgrainbox delivers bake-from-frozen breads, pastries, and fresh pasta right to your door!

Clean ingredients, real sourdough, artisanal pastries, hand cut fresh pasta, eco friendly shipping, and they support small bakeries! 👩🏼‍🍳

Every item is freezer to table in 25 minutes or less so you can enjoy homemade quality food, FAST. I whipped up a loaf of sourdough bread and delicious pasta with marinara sauce in under 30 minutes for me and my husband to enjoy a little date night at home. It was like going to a fancy Italian restaurant, but we go to eat in our pajamas!

We love that Wildgrain is passionate about delivering slow-fermented sourdough bread‘s, fresh pasta, and artisan pastries directly to your door and I love that they are local to me! 

WANT TO TRY IT?! The first 50 people to use my coupon code and link can get $30 off their first box PLUS free croissants in every box! 

Use coupon code FASHIONABLEWIFE to snag this deal QUICK! 💃🏼

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#momlife #homemaker #mywildgrain #datenightideas
Introducing Caraway’s most requested products, t Introducing Caraway’s most requested products, the NEW Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan!!! 

By popular demand, they now have miniature versions of their two best-selling À La Carte pieces, now in compact and cute sizes!! 

These are designed for cooking smaller portions and are a perfect complement to your current Caraway cookware collection. 

🥳Get 10% off the new Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan using my link in my bio! 🥳

#momlife #homemaker #homelifestyle #kitcheninspo
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By popular demand, they now have miniature versions of their two best-selling À La Carte pieces, now in compact & cute sizes. These are designed for cooking smaller portions and make the perfect complement to your current Caraway collection. 

Get 10% off the new Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan using my link! 🛒

⁣LlNK is in my bio and stories! 💃🏼 Or use code FASHIONABLEWIFE-MINI22 
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Can you imagine a more beautiful thing?! I can’t Can you imagine a more beautiful thing?! I can’t! 🤣

My son is loving our @treasuresfromjennifer calendar and keeping track of the days now. He keeps telling me how many days it is until the first day of fall rather than asking me 900 times “when is it going to be fall, mama?!” 😜

Do you have a calendar or weather board in your home for your children? 

#homeschoolmom #homeschoolroom #homeschoollife #homeschoollookslikethis
Anybody else excited about apple picking season?! Anybody else excited about apple picking season?! 🍎 

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What’s your favorite thing about September?! 

#septembervibes #fallinnewengland #fallvibes #applepickingseason #fallinnh #newenglandfall #newenglandlife #newhampshirefall #appleorchards
Introducing Theology of Home III: At the Sea 🌊 Introducing Theology of Home III: At the Sea 🌊 

This is the newest release in the amazing book series by @carrie.gress and @noellemering from @tan_books !! 

A must-have for homemakers, At The Sea draws from literature, mythology, and scripture to show readers the rich connections between the sea and mystery, recreation, yearning, and joyful reunions.

Within these pages you’ll find inspiration for home, womanhood, and family. Learn more about water in Scripture, Our Lady as Stella Maris, and more. This book is beautifully laid out and includes breathtaking photography that will capture your heart. 

It would make a beautiful gift or a lovely addition to your book collection. 

Use the TAN Books link in my bio to shop and use ✨coupon code RAISINGWILD-15 for 15% off!✨

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Looking at pictures of my last birth makes me grie Looking at pictures of my last birth makes me grieve my baby in Heaven that I just lost a few weeks ago. 

Knowing all the firsts we won’t be getting. All the newborn snuggles, that new baby smell, the joy of breastfeeding, it’s all gone. Slipped through my fingers in a moment, for no reason. 

No one thinks it will ever happen to them. Nothing prepares you for the loss of your child and no one can fully understand and appreciate the intense level of grief and pain until it happens to you. And if you do not understand this kind of grief, consider yourself very, very blessed and fortunate. 

Sometimes being open to life, also means being open to loss. 💔

#miscarriage #miscarriagesupport #miscarriageawareness #lossmom
READ this post before you LIKE it. 💔💔💔 A READ this post before you LIKE it. 💔💔💔

A few weeks ago, we were planning to announce that baby #6 would be joining our crew in January 2023, but instead we've been processing the death of our beloved child... 

At our 20 week anatomy scan, when we were joyfully expecting to see what our little babe looked like, we were met the words that will haunt us forever - "We can't find a heartbeat."

Two days later, we found ourselves in a foreign environment, after 5 beautiful homebirths, naturally delivering our stillborn son in a hospital. 

Dylan Marinus Ballard was born on August 31st, (our first son's birthday) at 6:43pm and weighing only 7.5 oz. 

Tearfully and filled with grief beyond words, we had to say hello and goodbye at the same time. Our beautiful son. 

Seeing his face, holding his tiny body, and admiring his little toes that looked just like daddy's was just a glimpse into the miracle of life that God allows us to partake in. When you fully realize the sanctity of human life, it makes it even harder to say goodbye. Not being able to take my baby home with me was the most gut wrenching, heartbreaking pain imaginable. It is a pain unlike all others that only mothers who have lost a child can even begin to understand. 

The hardest part of losing a child, is living everyday afterwards. It's such a devastating loss, a loss so unimaginable, that you have no idea how you will get through each day or survive the grief that is in your heart. No matter what age a child is, a parent's heart is forever tied to that child and there's nothing that will break that tie, including the passing of time. That's the beauty of unconditional love. 

Our only consolation is knowing that our little saint is in the loving arms of Jesus now. We look forward to meeting him in Heaven someday.

📷 birth photography by Melissa Lee Photography

#griefjourney #griefandloss #miscarriage #miscarriageawareness #griefawareness #griefislove #itsokaynottobeokay #largefamily #largefamilymom #bigfamily #bigfamilylife #lossmom #pregnancyloss #momlife #pregnancylossawareness #stillbirth #stillborn #stillbornstillloved #stillbornawareness #babyloss #miscarriagemomma #bereavedparents #lossmoms
Some of my favorite fall eats here! 😋 What ar Some of my favorite fall eats here! 😋 

What are your favorite fall comfort foods???

#momlife #homemaker #octobervibes #feelslikefall
Need an easy solution for dinner but don’t want Need an easy solution for dinner but don’t want fast food? @wildgrainbox delivers bake-from-frozen breads, pastries, and fresh pasta right to your door!

Clean ingredients, real sourdough, artisanal pastries, hand cut fresh pasta, eco friendly shipping, and they support small bakeries! 👩🏼‍🍳

Every item is freezer to table in 25 minutes or less so you can enjoy homemade quality food, FAST. I whipped up a loaf of sourdough bread and delicious pasta with marinara sauce in under 30 minutes for me and my husband to enjoy a little date night at home. It was like going to a fancy Italian restaurant, but we go to eat in our pajamas!

We love that Wildgrain is passionate about delivering slow-fermented sourdough bread‘s, fresh pasta, and artisan pastries directly to your door and I love that they are local to me! 

WANT TO TRY IT?! The first 50 people to use my coupon code and link can get $30 off their first box PLUS free croissants in every box! 

Use coupon code FASHIONABLEWIFE to snag this deal QUICK! 💃🏼

LlNK in bio and in stories! 🛒

#momlife #homemaker #mywildgrain #datenightideas
Introducing Caraway’s most requested products, t Introducing Caraway’s most requested products, the NEW Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan!!! 

By popular demand, they now have miniature versions of their two best-selling À La Carte pieces, now in compact and cute sizes!! 

These are designed for cooking smaller portions and are a perfect complement to your current Caraway cookware collection. 

🥳Get 10% off the new Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan using my link in my bio! 🥳

#momlife #homemaker #homelifestyle #kitcheninspo
What better way to welcome fall than with @caraway What better way to welcome fall than with @caraway_home latest products, the Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan!!! 

By popular demand, they now have miniature versions of their two best-selling À La Carte pieces, now in compact & cute sizes. These are designed for cooking smaller portions and make the perfect complement to your current Caraway collection. 

Get 10% off the new Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan using my link! 🛒

⁣LlNK is in my bio and stories! 💃🏼 Or use code FASHIONABLEWIFE-MINI22 
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
#cottageliving #decor #decoration #farmhouselove #hgtv #homedesign #interior #interiordecor #interiorstyling #kitchendesign #kitchendiner #kitcheninspo #kitchenremodel #kitchenrenovation #kitchensofinstagram #magnoliahome #modernfarmhouse #modernfarmhousestyle #neutralabodes #neutraldecor #neutralhome #neutralkitchen #neutralstyle #neutraltones #newbuild #newbuildhome #newbuildjourney #quartzworktops #shakerkitchen #whitekitchen
Can you imagine a more beautiful thing?! I can’t Can you imagine a more beautiful thing?! I can’t! 🤣

My son is loving our @treasuresfromjennifer calendar and keeping track of the days now. He keeps telling me how many days it is until the first day of fall rather than asking me 900 times “when is it going to be fall, mama?!” 😜

Do you have a calendar or weather board in your home for your children? 

#homeschoolmom #homeschoolroom #homeschoollife #homeschoollookslikethis
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