Yes, heavily, but only for the last 10 years or so, and it had been gradually getting worse up until maybe 5 years ago. It's one part of my anxiety disorder that includes a bunch of other phobias, most of which the social anxiety makes worse. I used to spend all my time at my computer, either chatting online or watching DVDs / stuff I'd torrented, rarely going out.

These days I have friends away from the net, but I still feel that the relationships I have are very delicate. I find it hard to go and visit others, and a careless comment from somebody that I take to heart is enough to keep me away for weeks. I still feel very self-c0nscious with even my closest friends, which makes me nervous and clumsy, and results in me getting uptight and uncomfortable at some point. I find myself over-compensating by being louder than usual or joking too much, drinking too much, or by assuming different behaviours to fit in. I think that most of the people I know would consider me to be quite confident, with no idea what's going on underneath. I became very good at hiding my nervousness and body language, deliberately acting out relaxed body language, since I thought people would notice if I was nervous, with unwelcome attention following on from that.

I live in quite a rough area, and often feel nervous just walking down the street, which of course makes me tense and self-conscious again.

One of my absolute worst hates though is dealing with people in shops. Because I don't go out much, I tend to use the shops that are closest to me, which makes me a regular in most of those places. After a while, the staff recognise you, and start to be friendly and chatty. I find that really hard to deal with, desperately trying to avoid a conversation while standing awkwardly for what seems like an eternity while they ring up my purchases. Sometimes they take that as aloofness, and stop being friendly, or in some cases become cold or hostile. Then I have to change shops for a few weeks, or just put up with the additional discomfort, although it makes it easier in some ways because they just don't attempt conversation after that.

Strangely enough, in generally faceless situations (e.g. in the bank, large supermarkets), I'm fine. As long as I know I'm unlikely to see the person that I'm dealing with again, I'm perfectly relaxed. Then I just have to worry about the people around me in the queue getting too far into my comfort zone.

I can't recall the last time I went out somewhere on my own simply for entertainment. If I don't know that some of my very close friends will be there, I'll not go. If it's a fairly long journey or a big venue (where I might miss them), I'll not go. If I will be on my own there, I'll not go. Often, even if none of those are true, I'll not go.

I have no idea how this started. I used to be a gregarious person, generally unphased by strangers (or at least friendly ones). I had a wide circle of friends that my phobia has gradually alienated. I often wonder if my current friends are just putting up with me, especially if I've overdone the alcohol, but they always seem pleased to see me, but sometimes I can't handle that very well either, as I wonder if they are sincere.

I spent some time in therapy last year, which reduced the most extreme symptoms (panic attacks) to practically nil, but it hasn't touched on the low-grade discomfort and anxiety, misplaced fight-or-flight reactions that was underpinning those. I'd be extremely grateful for anybodys suggestions on how to deal with this. It's crippling, and particularly frustrating now I am free of the panic attacks. I was hoping to kick-start my life after overcoming the panics, but found myself pretty much just on square two instead of square one.

Thanks for listening, sorry if I rambled a bit .

It affected me a great deal during highschool, my hands would tremble, heartbeat would raise before having to go to school in the morning, it's an extreme type of fear, I'd just often walk out of school even when I made it there, and run to the library and just hide there for 6hours straight, the only time I felt comfort was staying home. I couldn't tell anyone why I was afraid, because it was illogical, it wasn't a problem to anyone. The fear gets worst after just missing 2 day of classes because I would have to go through 8 different teachers telling them why I was away, and explaining myself as the center of attention, the more days I miss the worst the fear was, because there'd be no way I could just walk in after missing 2 weeks of school, my parents would need to be contacted, and I didn't want them to know I was in fear of everything at school. I ran and left home one time because I was asked about it, I went to hide outside of a school under the shade to sleep there when night falls.

Even years after highschool, every once in a while I still dream of the same sequences of me being at school and thinking about what classes I'm failing and what classes I could attend out of the 8 classes. It was really illogical, but I don't know why I was so afraid of it. I really wanted help but I didn't know how to properly explain it to anyone, I just want to get the hell out of there.

I did this often, at the school library. The medication I was on at the time would make me extremely drowsy.
The library I hid in had large partitions between each desk, and I would actually pass out face
down on my book bag. I really wasn't hassled by any adults there, though I probably should've been.
I would wake up and look at the clock to see what period it was, and if it was towards the end
of one, I would try to make it. If it wasn't, I would nap until the next one to avoid having to enter
a full classroom mid-period.



I still to this day see the faces of teachers and students in my dreams maybe once a week,
even though I haven't seen any of them in 18 years.

"Need not be perpetually afraid of it ever after though"
this is a good comment I should apply!
I usually feel anxious in a lot of situations, trying to participate in class, hours (or sometimes days) after finishing talking with X people (strangers, peoples from stores, teachers, in the phone) which leads me to avoid them, but as Vertex said, I'm still learning and trying to reagain control of my own thougts (worry, nervious-ness that cames out of old memories and a bit of paranoia- how people may judge me... )

social anxiety ... is my life, I do not like to talk in public,
my family is pushing me to do things, but they expect to me commit fail, and that is worse, do not try, nor attempt to meet other people. usually do not feel like talking to anyone and just smiled Evading the questions.
When people talk of visiting my house, I lie and say I will not there.
in college, I had panic attacks for stand up and read what the teacher stated, Because everyone was watching me. I hate that feeling, and I hate that people near me.
sometimes my old friends want to come near me, but I ran away, I will not respond your questions even though these are "not a nice day today?" I just can not deal with it, either with my failures and false expectations.

I haven't officially been 'diagnosed' with anything, but that's because I don't really care about what some institutionalized assessment of my "disorders" may be, the world is full of people with disorders, not like having some problem is atypical. But as far as social situations go, I've bypassed such situations by reading. Whenever there's a situation where I can avoid talking to someone, I will--by sticking my face in a book.

Yeah I have a social anxiety disorder. I have a real hard time getting out of the house

I do not believe I have a social or anxiety disorder. I simply have chosen to purposefully retreat from society. If any have not noticed ~ society has lost its mind ~ not I ~ lol. The things occurring within it are not good enough for me. I value myself too much, to place myself in a circumstance or situation that has the potential to compromise me in any way. My life has been positively effected since my retreat from the world approximately 4 years ago. For the first time in my life after doing so, I have not had to adjust myself, or 'deal' with the chaotic situations that people bring upon themselves and others. I have exchanged a senseless, chaotic and crazy world for a life of peace.

It's not so bad now, but was at its worst during the senior years of highschool.

I was always a shy girl, and never really felt comfortable in social situations. It was a little easier when i was younger coz whenever i went somewhere it was with my mum, but as i grew into a teenager, I felt increasingly alone, especially when trying to make friends. As a result I only ever have a small group of friends (which suits me fine) but it made it hard during group work, competing in sports teams etc.

The highest point of my social anxiety came during the latter half of highschool when my best friend moved away. She was a bit more outgoing than me, so we hung out together or i would move with her around different groups of friends. So when she went, I really had nobody, and sort of floated around. There was really nobody I could hang around with comfortably, so i never really had a friend or friends that i found close. I made a new bestie just before highschool ended, but as highschool politics dictate, she already had her own group of friends she hung around with at lunchtime (whom i didnt get along with), so i still sort of floated around.

coupled with that, i had a huuuge crush on this guy, but i couldnt even talk to him because of my anxiety. I couldnt even sit next to him in class for fear i would have to talk to him, and wouldnt know how. Whenever I was around him i got sweaty palms, rapid breathing, and would get flushed, and it wasnt inconspicuous at all, so I'm sure he and other people noticed, which only made it harder. Even thinking about those times makes me cringe. other than that, i would get so flushed if i had to make a speech in any class, and working with groups was torture.

Despite that, though, I actually enjoyed highschool. Its just my anxiety that hangs over my highschool memories like a black cloud

I'm a little better now. Moving to a bigger city for uni has really forced me to grow up, and I have a steady boyfriend now. I still know my anxiety could come up anytime though, but I'm familiar with situations that make me uncomfortable so I can sort of prepare myself for what can happen a little bit. My anxiety does still come up in certain situations, but not as much as it did. even if i get obviously flushed, i act as if nothing is happening because i know i cant do anything to help it, i just have to wait for it to go away.

The future gets me nervous though, I know i probably cant be with my boyfriend forever, and university will end soon and then ill have to try and find a job, another place to live, all which terrifies me. Because my boyfriend will go back to japan after uni I cant move in with him, and hes been sort of my rock while ive been here. I also dont think my parents will let me move back in either, and im torn between following my dreams in art, or taking the more practical route of doing an education masters and becoming a teacher.

Oh the future scares me

I believe I have to have some type of social anxiety disorder. One day, around 6 months ago, I just stopped going to school. Every time I go out in public I get sick to my stomach, and since I don't particularly enjoy that feeling I just decided not to go out any longer unless forced. I still have no clue what started it and my mother forces me to a psychologist all the time, while all she seems to want to do is push me back into social situations I know I can't handle while not giving me any sort of diagnosis. I'm not sure what to do from this point, but I don't see a solution anywhere at the moment.

On another note, does that quiz posted before seem accurate to those who have taken it? I got (64) fear + (72) avoidance =136.

My score: 48 (fear) + 59 (avoidance) = 107

I guess it's accurate...

Your score:
49 (fear) + 47 (avoidance) = 96

Mine seems pretty accurate. Anything personal just gets thrown out the window.

my score is 27 (fear) + 54 (avoidance) = 81.

i'm not afraid i just have a strong dislike of many social situations. i feel like i'm wasting my time more often than not and it's hard for me to loosen up enough to actually enjoy myself. i don't know the right things to say to most people. i have to either lie about who i am often or lie by omission since many things about me are controversial to other people, and making waves isn't worth the effort anymore. i often wonder to myself when in a social setting why i'm doing this, or what the hell was i thinking when i said i'd be there. i make up excuses to get out and have even gone so far as to make myself sick to be able to go home. social events always wipe me out.

I quit school because of it.
I never leave the house because of it.

You're already on an excellent start right here. Tell your psychologist word-to-word what you just typed. Talk about stomach sickness. How you decided to no longer go out unless forced. This isn't about any sort of diagnosis. It's about, "what to do from this point." Your psychologist will try to help you figure that out.
Good luck!

I think I might have it. I'm not sure since I never was diagnosed and I am not really sure what the specifics are for having this as opposed to something else or something similar. But I hate being around other people. I mentioned this in my dramatic whining first-post, but when people are around me, I normally find myself in my head begging that they don't talk to me. I'm terrified of social situations. It's one of the reasons I am a recluse. I hate gatherings. It's gotten to the point where if I have my window open and I see people out there, I will probably close my window out of fear they will see me.

this is exactly how i felt before i pretty much just cut myself off from everyone i knew irl :<

I took that test.


Your score:
60 (fear) + 68 (avoidance) = 128

Greater than 95 - Very severe social phobia

lol, tell me something I don't know.

I've had social anxiety all my life, it only gets worse every day

It's ruined everything. Because of my anxiety, I have no friends. I can't get a job. I can barely go outside in public. I can't be around people without feeling like everyone is watching and judging me. I can't even talk to people well enough to order a restaurant.

I scored 112 on that test

I made a 96 on that test, but I've already been diagnosed with social anxiety after knowing I've had it all my life.

There are many times I wish I didn't have it, because I could really use the money from having a job. Instead, once I get to the face-to-face interview, I run off.

I scored 128 on that test, which I actually find surprising. I know it's bad but I didn't think it was that bad.

Your score:
46 (fear) + 41 (avoidance) = 87

That wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be. I think.
A couple years ago it would have been way higher, past 100 if I had to guess. Can't say my social anxiety has decreased that much, it seems to fluctuate sometimes depending how I'm feeling. There are also some situations I absolutely loathe and I don't think I will change my opinion/feelings about them any time soon.

Your score:
36 (fear) + 36 (avoidance) = 72

I'm like SV22.. I wanted to put that I would just avoid the situation entirely. My score would have been higher before I found this site. I've been trying to overcome my inhibitors though and some situations, which the prospect would have terrified me before, don't do so anymore; at least to a milder degree.

I honestly believe that almost everyone has social anxiety to some extent. I notice that a lot of people on HikiCulture just make things worse for themselves by overexaggerating little experiences and thinking that they are bad because of it. There's too much "I don't go outside because I don't like people" or "I don't go outside because I'm ebarrassed that I can't go up to a stranger and start a conversation and look them in the eye.", and I believe that some people on here are just exaggerating. Taking small things such as not looking people in the eye and then beating yourself up about it is dumb. If being in a crowd of people makes you break down and cry, then we have a problem. But I'm sure that a lot of the people here can manage.

I don't know, I feel like a lot of people on HikiCulture just overexaggerate anxiety and compare their stories to others, attempting to sound more pitiful. I understand this isn't a site to get help but something to make people realize how ridiculous they are being would be nice. A lot of you would be able to do more if you didn't exaggerate this in your mind. A lot of you brought this upon yourself, now fix it. You can do it as long as you're willing to do it. This isn't some "JUST TRY AND YOU CAN DO IT" bullshit, this is the truth.

I would focus a little more on my own socially inept self instead of jumping on soap boxes and giving lectures on things I literally know nothing about.