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deleted #89
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What are the major differences between the degrees of Social anxiety? Im asking because I read a article stating that CBT therapy works for people with mild or moderate form of Social anxiety.
This is just my personal opinion, not from a book or anything..
but I think that mild social anxiety could be a certain degree of awkwardness/discomfort when interacting with others. The person may avoid some situations, but is still able to do things like work/school but may endure a lot of anxiety/pressure while doing them. Like you go to work or talk to people but you're having anxiety/insecurity and may feel uncomfortable/awkward. Maybe sometimes they will try to avoid situations or call out of work. Like I said, there's some avoidance going on but the person is still able to do things.
For someone with more severe social anxiety I'd say it's affected them so much that they can't work or go to school. They might drop out of high school because of the amount of anxiety they have and they may be unemployed. They may not respond to other people when talking, or when they talk they might appear very fidgety around the mouth and look very nervous.
but I think that mild social anxiety could be a certain degree of awkwardness/discomfort when interacting with others. The person may avoid some situations, but is still able to do things like work/school but may endure a lot of anxiety/pressure while doing them. Like you go to work or talk to people but you're having anxiety/insecurity and may feel uncomfortable/awkward. Maybe sometimes they will try to avoid situations or call out of work. Like I said, there's some avoidance going on but the person is still able to do things.
For someone with more severe social anxiety I'd say it's affected them so much that they can't work or go to school. They might drop out of high school because of the amount of anxiety they have and they may be unemployed. They may not respond to other people when talking, or when they talk they might appear very fidgety around the mouth and look very nervous.
razzle dazzle rose
Well-known member
There are different degrees of SA. When it starts to interfere with your life in very negative ways (i.e. getting/maintaining relationships, jobs, school) it enters moderate/severe SA territory. I don't know if there is a checklist of it somewhere.
Etbow23 described it well. It is when the avoidance becomes great that it really starts interfering with you life. My SA is moderate to severe. It does get in the way of me getting a job and starting things; but I do respond when someone talks to me, sometimes I even initiate small talk, and for the most part I can control my fidgeting.
I always want to try the fancy therapy techniques I keep reading about, but whenever I go to shrinks they just wanna do the "talk" therapy that goes nowhere. Maybe 'cause they are inexperienced. I don't know.
Etbow23 described it well. It is when the avoidance becomes great that it really starts interfering with you life. My SA is moderate to severe. It does get in the way of me getting a job and starting things; but I do respond when someone talks to me, sometimes I even initiate small talk, and for the most part I can control my fidgeting.
I always want to try the fancy therapy techniques I keep reading about, but whenever I go to shrinks they just wanna do the "talk" therapy that goes nowhere. Maybe 'cause they are inexperienced. I don't know.
razzle dazzle rose
Well-known member
I wonder now what would work for someone is severe SA...
milo001
Well-known member
I think that as well.Peoples with very severe SA(AVPD) would be unable look for a jobs,entering university,make friends or having a relationships.Even doing daily grocery shopping and eating out with family is a challenge for them.I consider myself quite severe because I need my parents to accompany me to go everywhere and I live like a hermit.Even going for a haircut is really for weeks and even months before going to the saloon.The anxiety and the stupid thoughts prevent me from being a normal person.
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Falkor
1
Mild
-Afraid of new situations, more unsure of himself than others, still not stopped by social situations but it is sure frightening, anxiety attacks very rarely, afraid to make contact in general, afraid of comittment, very shy, not so talk-active, still a few friends but not too much, not very social.
Severe
-So afraid of situations that you avoid, really low self esteem, same routine probs, isolated, feel like an hermit, anxiety attacks a lot of times, too afraid to make contacts so the steps are hard to be taken, can't even think of dating or tries to but afraid of failure, no friends and a ''typical what are you doing in the weekend saying ''I have no plans'', far more than shy, quiet, never talk to strangers, afraid of asking questions, not social at all (maybe still want to?)
Also there are people who are okay with not being social.
This is often mistaken with social anxiety, because they never want to see people. They just don't feel the need to, it's not because they are afraid of meeting them.
So there are SOO many ways of being social.
Also I would say being extremely arrogant is a social problem criteria..
Only this is a huge problem if it stops you and if you are feeling a pain in the neck about it.... If you would say you are only afraid of being on stage or hold a speech I would say stage fright and mild anxiety in general possible..
Some people do experience Social Anxiety on Stage only though....
Everybody has a little social anxiety in him... It's just how it affects you
and how much you let it affect you... and how much others deal with you... and how you deal with the case...
I don't believe any person in the world doesn't have a fear or is not even socially anxious at all... Everybody is afraid before something BIG...
Even if they say NOT SO... They say it to protect themselfes and TELL THEMSELFES , it will be OKAY, so it will be okay... That's the prob with us.. we tell it will go wrong... That's what we have to change
-Afraid of new situations, more unsure of himself than others, still not stopped by social situations but it is sure frightening, anxiety attacks very rarely, afraid to make contact in general, afraid of comittment, very shy, not so talk-active, still a few friends but not too much, not very social.
Severe
-So afraid of situations that you avoid, really low self esteem, same routine probs, isolated, feel like an hermit, anxiety attacks a lot of times, too afraid to make contacts so the steps are hard to be taken, can't even think of dating or tries to but afraid of failure, no friends and a ''typical what are you doing in the weekend saying ''I have no plans'', far more than shy, quiet, never talk to strangers, afraid of asking questions, not social at all (maybe still want to?)
Also there are people who are okay with not being social.
This is often mistaken with social anxiety, because they never want to see people. They just don't feel the need to, it's not because they are afraid of meeting them.
So there are SOO many ways of being social.
Also I would say being extremely arrogant is a social problem criteria..
Only this is a huge problem if it stops you and if you are feeling a pain in the neck about it.... If you would say you are only afraid of being on stage or hold a speech I would say stage fright and mild anxiety in general possible..
Some people do experience Social Anxiety on Stage only though....
Everybody has a little social anxiety in him... It's just how it affects you
and how much you let it affect you... and how much others deal with you... and how you deal with the case...
I don't believe any person in the world doesn't have a fear or is not even socially anxious at all... Everybody is afraid before something BIG...
Even if they say NOT SO... They say it to protect themselfes and TELL THEMSELFES , it will be OKAY, so it will be okay... That's the prob with us.. we tell it will go wrong... That's what we have to change
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this_portrait
Well-known member
My therapist describes my SA as severe. However, I'm able to perform things like going to class, going to work, basic interactions when doing things like ordering food or buying stuff, talking to authority figures, etc.
Where my problem lies is in talking more to my peers and "putting myself out there." I get so much anxiety over it that I tend to avoid even trying. And don't even get me started on dating/relationships...
With me, though, I've been engaged in the same type of behavior for so long that it's become second nature to me. No one ever really described it as "offensive" until I got to this sh*t hole known as college.
Where my problem lies is in talking more to my peers and "putting myself out there." I get so much anxiety over it that I tend to avoid even trying. And don't even get me started on dating/relationships...
With me, though, I've been engaged in the same type of behavior for so long that it's become second nature to me. No one ever really described it as "offensive" until I got to this sh*t hole known as college.