Can a person have social phobia and not have depression?

[Lissa102]

The two almost seem synonymous with one another in a way.
I have both but I'm wondering if there are some people who just have social phobia? Or does social phobia really stem from depression? Which comes first?

I hope to someday overcome my social phobia, but I dont think I'll ever overcome depression because mine is clinical and hereditary.

Can you really overcome social phobia or does it just lie dormant for a time?

 

[Jake123]

Chicken or the egg...

 

[Harleyq]

IDK if anyone can truly overcome social phobia but I do know that you don't have to be depressed to have anxiety, or vice versa.

I'm socially anxious, but I don't have depression.

 

[lithium]

In my case, my depression is caused by my social anxiety. That is to say, whenever I am in a social situation, and I am anxious, I get depressed. After the given situation, I become really depressed. I want to be socially adequate and be able to communicate and have a good time, but my anxiety just ruins me.

 

[jmroszczak]

i have severe social phobia and hardly no depression..I get it occasionally and its probably no different than any other "normal" persons dep.

 

[Nobody]

There was a time when I just had social phobia but I was still very happy with my life. So, yes, you can have S.A. without depression

 

[Helyna]

Social anxiety sometimes causes depression.
Depression makes social anxiety worse, at least in my case.
I'm sure you can have one without the other.

 

[Nack]

isn't it shy?

 

[Badbuz]

Ya i have sa and have beatin depression,but stil hav bad anxiety.you cnt get rid of anxiety completly,you can learn to control it and get it to normal levels but anxiety is part of everybody its just that we cant control ours

 

[Lissa102]

I'm just the opposite way. My depression came first and then I started getting socially phobic becos I was so depressed I couldnt behave normally around people and then the worse my social phobia got the worst my depression became too.

In my case, my depression is caused by my social anxiety. That is to say, whenever I am in a social situation, and I am anxious, I get depressed. After the given situation, I become really depressed. I want to be socially adequate and be able to communicate and have a good time, but my anxiety just ruins me.

 

[exquisite]

frankly, i'd say first comes the social phobia, then the depression...but then again, who am i to say? i didnt even know i had social phobia until about 2 days ago, when i finally decided to research why i act & feel so differently from others. and yet, i know i've been on & off depressed for a while, although i usually get extremely depressed when i don't really talk with my very close friends.. so maybe it just runs full circle?

 

[limetree]

I've heard depression and anxiety being described as two sides of the same coin. Although you probably can have one without the other, having SA might make you more susceptible to depression and vice versa. Social phobics can become depressed over a sense of learned helpelessness and depression's stagnation of fulfilling participation in the world can heighten anxiety regarding social skills. It's different for each individual with the interdependent dynamic varying in complexity, I'm just guessing what might be the gist of it.

 

[Argamemnon]

That's a very good question. I think it goes both ways; if you're depressed you will also feel socially anxious, and if you have social anxiety, it can lead to depression. There is no escape, lol.

 

[iwanttogetbetter]

I'd rather be depressed then socially anxious any day.

 

[Argamemnon]

I'd rather be depressed then socially anxious any day.

Depression is even worse!! I have both and I know what I'm talking about. Depression makes anxiety much much worse, it's horrible.

 

[iwanttogetbetter]

Depression is even worse!! I have both and I know what I'm talking about. Depression makes anxiety much much worse, it's horrible.

u think? I go to school and being socially anxious in school makes everything 100 times harder socially and academically. With depression atleast you can actually be around people without freaking out. Isn't depression having no motivation to do anything and just being mopey. I'm not talking about major depression with suicidal thoughts just normal one if thats the case Hey ill take that please.

 

[Argamemnon]

u think? I go to school and being socially anxious in school makes everything 100 times harder socially and academically. With depression atleast you can actually be around people without freaking out. Isn't depression having no motivation to do anything and just being mopey. I'm not talking about major depression with suicidal thoughts just normal one if thats the case Hey ill take that please.

Well, I have major depression. Everybody is different, but I know depression causes anxiety as well...

 

[Lea]

I don´t think so, although I have enjoyed so much depression (and I know I still will). I put it down to that I did something wrong. I think learning to be happy (or at least not in the deepest depression) despite circumstances is a skill that can be learnt through practice . There is so much we can do even like this, with our SA or whatever we have. But we concentrate only on what we can´t have, and neglect the things we can actually do.

I always say to myself, it´s not important if I am happy or not, I try to concentrate on what I can do to make it better.

 

[this_portrait]

Yes.

My SA is very severe, but I'm not depressed every day of the week because of it. Not to say that it hasn't made me feel depressed, though. It's more of the feelings of loneliness that make me feel down in the dumps. About a month ago, I was depressed nearly every day for a few weeks straight because I felt so lonely. Dating helped to ease the pain of it, but there are still times when I'll just get sad at random, probably because I lack friendships.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm part borderline because of my SA coinciding with depression at times. Up until I turned 18, my SA would coincide with anger. Since this characteristic is a bit of a symptom of being borderline, it kind of makes me wonder.

Either way, I believe it's possible to be a social phobe and not be depressed.

 

[Emily_G]

I don't think I have social phobia, maybe social anxiety. But I think I also have some sort and degree of depression....I've never seen anyone for it, but I think I do.