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Social anxiety is the fear of social situations that involve interaction with other people. Put another way, social anxiety is the fear and anxiety of being judged and evaluated by other people. If a person usually becomes anxious in social situations, but seems fine when they are alone, then "social anxiety" may be the problem.
People with social anxiety are many times seen by others as being shy, quiet, backward, withdrawn, inhibited, unfriendly, nervous, aloof, and disinterested. People with social anxiety want to be "normal" socially, they want to make friends and they want to be involved and engaged in social interactions.
Having social anxiety prevents people from being able to do the things they want, however.
People with social anxiety disorder usually experience significant emotional
distress in the following situations:
- Being introduced to other people
- Being teased or criticized
- Being the center of attention
- Being watched while doing something
- Meeting people in authority ("important people")
- Most social encounters, especially with strangers
- Going around the room (or table) in a circle and having to say something
- Interpersonal relationships, whether friendships or romantic
This list is certainly not a complete list of symptoms -- other feelings
have been associated with social anxiety as well.
The physiological manifestations that accompany social anxiety may include
intense fear, racing heart, turning red or blushing, excessive sweating,
dry throat and mouth, trembling, swallowing with difficulty, and muscle
twitches, particularly about the face and neck.
Constant, intense anxiety that does not go away is the most common feature.
People with social anxiety disorder know that their anxiety is irrational
and does not make "head" (i.e., cognitive) sense. Nevertheless, "knowing"
something is not the same thing as "believing" and "feeling" something.
Thus, for people with social anxiety, thoughts and feelings of anxiety
persist and show no signs of going away -- despite the fact that
socially-anxious people "face their fears" every day of their lives.
http://www.socialanxietyinstitute.org/define.html
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