Please Answer - "Painfully Shy"

Question

Could someone please explain this term; "Painfully Shy"? Nick Drake (Singer) was painfully shy and they also say Heath Ledger was painfully shy. What exactly does that mean about a person? How shy was Heath Ledger?

Thanks!

Answer 1

literally it would mean that they are racked with shyness.

Answer 2

I think it means that they were modest and didn't like lots of attention.

Answer 3

Painfully shy often means they are so shy that they feel physical pain at the thought of having to talk to another or be seen by others. They often feel dread and such anxiety that they want to run and hide. Often people use painfully shy incorrectly and use it on just much lessor forms of shyness to make it sound more theatrical.

Often people who can be outgoing have a level of shyness to them. It's easy to be "open" i ways that allows you to be shut off. Hi here's this big persona and yet i'll keep me to myself. They hide the truth behind a fake personality.  

Answer 4

That term usually refers to social anxiety disorder and often in hindsight.

http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide...

Answer 5

this typically refers to a person who is so shy that it is interferring with their normal everyday activities.

Answer 6

It means that they really didn't like all the attention they received.  They want to live modestly and not have everyone in their business.  It could also mean that they have an extremely hard time interacting with people because they are shy or insecure.

...By the way I looooooove Heath Ledger.

Answer 7

id just like to say

R.I.P Heath Ledger

Answer 8

Like when you find it really, really hard to speak to people.