Social Anxiety
Informative site created by a person who has social anxiety.
Made by lamb#6477
Definition
Social anxiety is a severe mental health condition in which social interactions cause irrational anxiety. It is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. This fear can affect work, school, and other daily activities. People with social anxiety may find it is hard to make and keep friends due to this disorder.
Made by lamb#6477
Symptoms
A person with social anxiety feels symptoms of anxiety, fear, or panic in situations where they may be scrutinized, evaluated, or judged by others, such as speaking in public, meeting new people, being on a job interview, having to talk to a waiter in a restaurant, or answering a question in class. This fear is not limited to in-person interactions. It can apply online as well, such as when playing a multi-player videogame or being on a call.
Made by lamb#6477
Support
People who have social anxiety are usually overly critical of themselves. They assume that other people are judging them, too. Try your best to be sincere and understanding rather than critical. No matter how unrealistic their fears seem, keep in mind that to them, these worries are very real and seriously impact their life. An important thing to remember is, just because a person has problems communicating, doesn’t mean that person doesn’t want to communicate with others.
Made by lamb#6477
Selective Mutism
Selective mutism is a severe anxiety disorder where a person is unable to speak in certain social situations. Someone with selective mutism does not refuse or choose not to speak at certain times, they're literally unable to speak. People with selective mutism are able to speak freely to certain people, such as close family and friends, when nobody else is around to trigger the freeze response. Selective mutism can be commonly seen in people with social anxiety, however they are separate disorders.
Made by lamb#6477