I've always been painfully shy, but recently after reading about social anxiety I've realised I have many of the symptoms.
I panic at the simplest things such as walking down the street alone or waiting outside a classroom, in case I look weird etc. I constantly feel like all eyes are on me and I've also found that I struggle to make friends as I'll never be the first to start a conversation as I would never know what to say. I won't even put my hand up to ask a queation ,I'd rather get it wrong than have to repeat and refine what I'm going to say in my head a hundred times. I even do that when I have to say 'here' in the regiater so that I know I will sound normal.
I hate not knowing what to say to people and often just ignore people to avoid any awkwardness. This means that people constantly tease me and make me feel stupid because they think I'm rude and feel like I'm better than everyone else and can therefore not speak to them. Which is obviously not the case. I'd kill to be able to start a conversation with aomeone. I just can't. And I have no idea whether this is just be being any as a teenager, because that's what everyone else seems to think.
Is this social anxiety? and if so what can I do about it?
Answers (2)
You remind me a lot of myself. Social anxiety (along with depression) is just one of those things that doctors and psychologists either 1) Automatically assume every teenager has or 2) Refuse to take your symptoms seriously because you're a teenager. No matter how much it affects your life, they'll claim it's "too difficult to diagnose". Basically, when you're a teenager no one really knows and at times it seems like no one really cares.
From my point of view, I think the symptoms you show can definitely be classified as social anxiety. I know the symptoms I show (which are similar to yours) make it hard for me to get through a day peacefully. Particularly at school where everyone seems so much more outgoing. So, if its causing you a lot of trouble, I suggest seeing a counsellor/psychologist about it. They will be able to give you strategies to help manage it and it might make things easier for you.
Hope everything goes well. :) Good luck
i have social anxiety too and i think you have social anxiety. but I'm not a doctor. tell someone very close to you and ask for advice. if you have none close try to face it head on. if you have to present something in class do it first to get it over with. if people look at you weird ignore them. focus on the positive faces. i hoped this helped.