The Difference between Social Anxiety and Shy

Maybe you are or someone you know is extremely shy and you might be asking yourself whether this behavior is comparable to social anxiety. It is difficult for most people to understand these conditions since they usually assume they are same. Well, people need to understand that these two are very different from each other. However, a person who is immensely shy may or may not have social anxiety disorder. Confusing? Read along to better understand the difference between these two.

According to Dr. Thomas Richards, a Psychologist and director of Social Anxiety Institute – Social Anxiety is the fear of social situations and the interaction with other people that can automatically bring feelings of self-consciousness, judgment, evaluation and inferiority. A person having this anxiety, fear social circumstances and avoid it as much as possible because they are afraid that they might do something embarrassing or humiliating leading to scrutiny and criticism from others. Most of the time, they are aware of this behavior and regards the fear as excessive and unreasonable.

Social anxiety is a specific form of anxiety. It is an emotion characterized by a discomfort or a fear when a person is in a social interaction that involves a concern of being judged or evaluated by others. Social anxiety significantly affects the person’s normal routine, especially when it comes to work and relationships with other people. It is all-consuming and greatly affects how a person thinks, talks and behaves.  This condition becomes a vicious cycle disrupting their whole being and more often than not, it leads to severe depression.

Shy is the feeling of apprehension, lack of comfort, or awkwardness especially when a person is in proximity to other people. In most cases, a person who is extremely shy may manifest physical symptoms, feelings of inferiority and worried how people judge them in general. They have the tendency to withdraw from situations that require social interactions.  However, this behavior does not necessarily affect a person’s life choices compared to people who have social anxiety.

Social Anxiety

In some studies, some people diagnosed with social anxiety disorder do not define them self as shy, some of them are friendly and talkative. In fact, some of them are sociable, but they feel suffocated and stuck with anxious thoughts, feelings and negative habits. Thus, shyness is not a pre-requisite for social anxiety disorder.

Shyness can advance to social anxiety, depending on an individual’s coping mechanism. Extreme shyness can lead to a vicious feedback loop causing severe fear of social interactions. When it comes to this point, no matter how friends and family try to say encouraging words, it will be ineffective not unless the person gets help from a professional who can give cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of therapy can help an individual recognize the core of social anxiety and assist him how to face fears and overcome it.