I think I might have social anxiety disorder?

Question

I'm a 15 year old girl. I'm very shy around people I don't know really well. I'm also just a bit shy around family members.

Well, these are the other reasons why I think I might have social anxiety disorder...

- I'm afraid of going for a jog outside because I feel as if everyone is going to look at me when I'm running.

- One time, I was at my mom's friend's dinner. There was this man sitting beside me whom I didn't know before and he was talking to me about his daughters. I didn't talk much, I mostly just listened. As he was talking, my hands were sweating a lot, as I get nervous when I'm having a conversation with people I don't know well.

- I've NEVER had a boyfriend, n'or have I ever been asked out. Even if I did have a boyfriend, I'm almost sure that I wouldn't tell my mom because I'd be too shy to tell her. Whenever I think a guy is cute or if I have a crush on a guy, I NEVER tell my mom cause I'm too shy to let her find out. Heck, I don't even know if I'm allowed to date yet cause I'm too shy to talk to her about guys and dating.

- If I do happen to have a small conversation with a stranger, later on, I start to worry that they might think what I said might've been stupid-sounding or weird.

- I care too much about what people think of me.

- I want to get a part-time job but I'm too scared to because I'm scared of having to talk to the staff that would be there and the customers.

My mom knows I'm super shy and I've told her that I should go to a psychologist but she doesn't really do anything. I seriously think I have social anxiety disorder.

It's kind of ironic though, cause when I was in elementary school, I sang for the talent show once a year for 4 years straight. Also, I take vocal class in high school and I've had to sing a song in front of the class for a vocal exam. It's actually my dream to become a singer but I really don't think I can become one, due to my shyness.

Do you think I have social anxiety disorder?

And wow, I gave so much for you guys to read. Sorry about that!

Answer 1

GASP, if YOU have social anxiety disorder

that must mean I have social anxiety disorder.

i kid you not. all those little points pretty much match up with me

haha, we should be friends.

anyway, im shy around people too. REALLY shy. So shy, that i'm scared of what other people think of my answers whenever i anonymously answer a question

well, if you think you do you should talk to someone you're comfortable with and ask them if they notice that you're scared to do these things:

• Public speaking

• Talking in meetings or classes

• Participating in sports or working out in front of others

• Performing music or acting on stage

• Writing in front of others

• Eating or drinking in front of others

• Using public restrooms when other people are nearby

• Making mistakes in front of others

• Being in public areas such as a shopping mall or a bus

or these:

• Going to a party

• Initiating or maintaining conversation

• Talking to strangers

• Inviting friends over for dinner

• Talking on the phone

• Expressing personal opinions

• Being assertive (e.g., refusing to give in to unreasonable requests, asking others to change their behavior)

• Being in intimate situations

• Talking to people in authority (e.g., employer, professor, doctor)

• Returning items to a store or sending food back in a restaurant

you can take this quiz too: http://panicdisorder.about.com/library/q...

http://www.paxilcr.com/social_anxiety_di...

im going to do those for sure, but if you're still not sure if you do or if you dont and you're pretty much scared of doing most of those things, i think you should really try to talk to your mom. i hate talking to my mom about things that involve my "health" (HAH, i was scared to tell her about my period) but it ended up helping.

hm, personally i dont think you have it

i think you're just really shy

but then if you really think you do, the best thing would probably be to tell someone about it and get yourself to a doctor

er, if you're not sure how, i usually write things down first and consider how people would react to it before telling them. it helps me decide who to tell. then when i do figure out who to tell, i think of all the reasons why i should tell them and then i try to think if its a good idea to tell them.

i usually end up with my uncle, since hes like this crazy self-less person who would never judge me/tell my mom unless it was serious

well, i dont know what else to tell you but good luck!

=)

Answer 2

WHOA!! i am exactly like that. I was gonna try and see a therapist one day about it. You should check out MY questions.

im just like you.

Answer 3

You are just painfully shy with a mix of low self-esteem. It can be a serious problem if you don't go out of your way to improve on your self-esteem. It's not social anxiety disorder.

Answer 4

So i'm not a professional person, of course.. so i wouldn't know

if it was an actual disorder..

but you shouldn't let things like a jog bug you.. i used to be

the same way, but i've changed.  

Answer 5

Yea that was a lot to read but it interested me cuz i'm kinda the same way.i'm a guy btw. I thought I had Avoidant personaility, and i asked my parents to see a psychaitrist. But one thing that i did learn was DON'T TRY TO DIAGNOSE YOURSELF!!!! The more you convince yourself that you have that problem then probably the worse it will get, so stop thinking about it. Yes you do seem like you have a great bit of shyness (i'm not that shy, but a good bit shy). Well so lately I've getting counseled at my church for free (go see your church pastor about it. I know its probably hard to tell someone but just tell them, use frikin text message or phone if you have to =/ that what i did). MY counselor says that God created us all differently, and i guess you're a little more introverted than most people and there's nothing wrong with it. God loves us all. And yes i also told him that i was extroverted when i was a kid (heck i was really extroverted, i was a frikin alpha dog =) ) but he says your true characteristics that God intended for you doesn't appear till adolescence. You should probably at least talk to your mother about things. My parents have put me through a lot of **** and it was hard to trust them but when you need help, they are still family. Talk to them about how you feel and if you feel like you need to see a counsellor or psychiatrist then so be it. there's nothing wrong with needing help. Go get a part time job, I got one at Hollister and it's helped me quite a bit.  I'm 17 and never had a girlfriend. And there, thats payback for making me reading all of that !!!!! =) cheers and if you wanna gimme a update, ill be here

Answer 6

The way you described yourself sure does sound like you have social anxiety. It seems like your shyness is keeping you from doing ordinary things in life. And getting really anxious and nervous everytime you're just talking to people isn't okay and an ordinary case of shyness. I hope you your mom will understand that you need to see a psychologist about this.

Answer 7

i personally don't think you have social anxiety i just think you are shy but here is a link to a medical screening test:

http://www.halfofus.com/schoolSelector.a...

just put any school it doesn't matter and here is some more information from that site:

http://www.halfofus.com/disorder/Anxiety...

hopefully this helps you.

Answer 8

If you are not already, go to church and learn to lean on Jesus. He has been a wonderful help to me. I was so shy now I'm singing at church, I'm still a little nervous but I know God is standing beside me holding my hand. The more you do the easier it gets , the less you do the harder it will be on you.