What is the difference between shyness and social anxiety ? Can anybody explain. I just had anxiety due to a thought that I may have social anxiety disorder. This happened because since I was a kid I was shy of doing certain things like speaking in front of whole class etc. And I am always shy in front of girls. I don't know why but when I talk to girls I feel shy. So I googled it and social anxiety disorder came . So I know that if a person even searches about chest pain google says it is cancer. So I don't know theater I have social anxiety disorder or it is just shyness. Please help.

Ocd alone is f*cking my life another disorder will ruin my life.

@harshit It sounds like the stigma of and associations you have with the word “disorder” are what’s most disturbing about this. The affect (ie that you struggle to socialize sometimes) isn’t really the problem then. Diagnosis and titles are important for treatment. That’s why we try to package certain symptoms into titles. Shyness vs social anxiety would likely be “treated” similarly. It seems like black and white thinking here is making one title intolerable when there’s actually a lot more room for nuance and overlap and things aren’t so drastic or dire. Catastrophic thinking is likely to blame. It’s okay to be shy. It’s okay to have social anxiety. It’s okay to have OCD. Use these broad terms to help you overcome symptoms that prevent you from living life how you want to and by the values you find important. That’s all you can do. Also: a new/secondary diagnosis wouldn’t “f*ck” you over more.It would just be more information to work with.

@pureolife Well what are my options if I have social anxiety . I mean how can one manage it. I didn't had any problem with being shy my whole life. You are right. If I say it like social anxiety it doesn't feel so scary. But saying it like social anxiety disorder chills my spine. I have a obsession about mental disorders. Whenever I see any mental disorder I start to obsess that I may have it. I know I don't but don't know why brain tells that you may develop . Can you please help me in diagnosing it? Please its a humble request .

@harshit I cannot help you diagnose it because I’m not a psychiatrist. And because you have OCD with obsessions related to disorders, I think this is actually a compulsion for reassurance. I would highly suggest you lean into uncertainty here and stop trying to find an answer. Maybe you have it, or maybe you don’t. You don’t/can’t know this on your own. Let the uncertainty of this just be and leave on its own without further compulsions. Whatever the answer, this is the perfect opportunity to practice response prevention and better manage your OCD.

@pureolife Thank you !! I really appreciate your help ❤.

Yes it happens with me. So should I let the thoughts flow or do I have social anxiety .

@harshit Let the thoughts flow. But it is also good to work on your social skills, that’s very important in life.

@sillybilly Thank you I will definitely work on it. I also think that what people think about it. Now I will think that lat them think . They are wrapped up in their life and have no time to think about me. I didn't have any problem socially by the way.