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Re: Isn't Social Phobia, just plain old Shyness?

Posted by Mid- Life Crisis on October 30, 2003, at 12:24:24

In reply to Isn't Social Phobia, just plain old Shyness? (nm) » NoMotic, posted by KimberlyDi on October 28, 2003, at 14:58:24

There's a huge difference between shyness and social anxiety disorder. I am not a particularly shy person, I'm actually sociable, enjoy people, and always got in trouble in school for talking too much. (In fact, was tested for "hyperactivity" as a child due to this, and as an adult recently was diagnosed with ADHD.) However, from my mid-teens on, I invariably had panic attacks, complete with all the symptoms, whenever I had to give a speech, book report, take an important test, etc. My anxiety/panic attacks only occurred whenever I had to "perform", and I was probably most anxious about a) making a fool of myself b) losing control and fainting c)being scrutinized/judged. (All of the above.) I still have racing heartbeats and extreme nervousness in these situations, but rarely full-blown panic attacks anymore. I know it has nothing to do with caffeine consumption, because it was worse when I was much younger and didn't consume caffeine, as opposed to now, when I do. I think my self-esteem was lower then (as a teenager and young adult with undiagnosed ADHD as well as other problems in my life) so I DO feel that low-self-esteem contributes to this problem, but it isn't the whole answer, either. I think there's a good possibility that whatever causes ADHD may also be related to the cause of this problem for me.
In contrast, my oldest son was shy as a child, and is still rather quiet as an adult, but he has never experienced nervousness/anxiety to any abnormal degree. I would love to just be "shy."


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