Posted by JonW on October 29, 2003, at 9:30:23
In reply to Isn't Social Phobia, just plain old Shyness? (nm) » NoMotic, posted by KimberlyDi on October 28, 2003, at 14:58:24
I dropped out of high school, and have been hospitalized twice... for just "plain old shyness". You see what I'm saying?
Social anxiety is a normal part of life and everyone experiences it. Just as saddness is a normal part of life, and everyone experiences it. Anxiety is supposed to sharpen you and make you perform better... people learn to harness it. Having social anxiety disorder is a dysfunction of that system, and it can be very debilitating. Imagine a life-threatening situation that would invoke fight or flight, and cause you to panic and run. Imagine choosing to stay in that situation, but not having the ability to fight. The way you would feel in that situation is what it feels like for someone with social phobia to have a conversation with someone they don't know, ask another person out, go to the mall, or pretty much anything that involves people. It may be hard to understand, but people with social phobia often find being mugged less anxiety provoking than asking a girl out, for example. The other important thing to note, is that social phobia is not a phobia. Phobias respond to exposure alone, and social anxiety disorder does not. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and/or medication can be very helpful for people with this problem. Both genetics and environment have a role in who develops the disorder.
Jon :)
poster:JonW
thread:273845
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031025/msgs/274601.html