Differences Between Shyness and Social Anxiety Disorder

Differences Between Shyness and Social Anxiety Disorder Social Anxiety Disorder Print Differences Between Shyness and Social Anxiety Disorder By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder and 7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety. Learn about our editorial policy Arlin Cuncic Updated on February 22, 2020 Social Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Tara Moore / Stone / Getty Images Shyness and social anxiety disorder share many characteristics. If you have spent your whole life feeling as though you are just a shy person, how do you know if it is something more serious? As a parent of a shy child, you might also wonder if the behavior is normal or may be signs of a disorder.   Effects of Social Anxiety Childhood is the time when  social skills  develop in preparation for the challenges of adolescence and adulthood. Children who suffer from SAD often do not develop appropriate social behaviors. As children grow with the disorder, they may become accustomed to having social fears and create a life based on avoidance. Social anxiety  disorder can have a devastating impact on your education, career success, financial independence, and personal relationships.?? Often it will lead to an isolated lifestyle and subsequent depression or  substance abuse.   At the same time, it is unfortunate that people wait so long or never get help when this disorder is treatable. In fact, studies show that nearly 70% of individuals suffering from SAD may be successfully treated with cognitive therapy.?? Social Anxiety vs. Shyness Unfortunately,  social anxiety disorder (SAD) is often dismissed as just extreme shyness. The reason many people don’t seek help for SAD is that they don’t realize that they have a recognized psychiatric condition.  Statistics show that although symptoms usually start in childhood, only about 50% of adults with the disorder receive treatment, and those who do seek treatment wait a long time to do so, 15 to years after symptoms begin.?? In general, the main symptoms that distinguish shyness from SAD are The intensity of the fearThe level of avoidanceThe impairment of functioning that it causes in a person’s life People with social anxiety disorder don’t just feel nervous before giving a speech. They may worry about the speech for weeks or months beforehand, lose sleep due to anxiety, and have intense symptoms of anxiety during the feared situation such as a racing heart, shortness of breath, sweating, or shaking. The symptoms usually do not go away  but get worse as the situation progresses. The person with SAD usually realizes that his or her fears are unfounded but is still unable to control them. Screening for Social Anxiety Disorder Your doctor or mental health care professional can conduct an in-depth interview to determine whether you meet the criteria for a diagnosis of SAD. However, as an initial step, he or she may have you complete a screening measure to determine the need for a more thorough follow-up evaluation. One such screening test is the “Mini-SPIN” (Mini-Social Phobia Inventory) that consists of just three questions. The Mini-SPIN (and it’s sister version the full SPIN) were created by Dr. Jonathan Davidson of the Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center. Studies have shown the Mini-SPIN is an efficient tool for diagnosing SAD among people of different cultures and languages.?? To complete the SPIN, your doctor will have you rate the following three items in terms of how true they are for you on a scale of 0 to 4, where 0 is “not at all” and 4 is “extremely present.” Fear of embarrassment causes me to avoid doing things or speaking to people.I avoid activities in which I am the center of attention.Being embarrassed or looking stupid are among my worst fears. Generally, total scores of 6 or higher are indicative of possible SAD, however, only a trained mental health professional can make a diagnosis based on a full interview. In addition to the SPIN and Mini-SPIN, there are several other instruments that may be used to screen for social anxiety disorder  including: Liebowitz Social Phobia ScaleFear of Negative Evaluation ScaleSocial Avoidance and Distress Scale Although screening instruments are very helpful in identifying potential problems with social anxiety, there is no substitute for a complete diagnostic interview conducted by a mental health professional. Your doctor will be able to provide a full assessment or refer you to another professional more experienced in diagnosing the disorder. A Word From Verywell If you believe that your shyness may actually be social anxiety disorder, it is important to make an appointment with your family doctor or mental health professional. Leaving symptoms untreated over a long period can worsen your anxiety and could lead to other problems such as depression or substance abuse. On the other hand, effective treatment such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication are available and have been shown to help with a social anxiety disorder. The 9 Best Online Therapy Programs