So I've never been diagnosed but I've had symptoms of social anxiety all my life.
My family doesn't listen to me when I tell them my problem. They just call me shy or immature or even weird. But they just don't understand. Most of the students at my school think I'm weird and are uncomfortable around me. My anxiety has gotten both better and worse as I get older. I can now control my anxiety to an extent and understand that my fears are irrational. On the downside, I now have much more fears. I always get self-conscious when I walk and I feel like everyone is staring at me walk. I also have difficulty eating in front of others. If I am being forced to speak in front of a group I get really hot and dizzy and I start shaking and stuttering. I am terrified to go anywhere alone. (like to the store) I'm scared to go to restaurants because when I go I am too scared to order food and feel like all the people are staring at me. I'm even anxious around my family. The only time I'm mostly comfortable is when I'm alone but even then I get this irrational fear that maybe someone is there. Just maybe they're watching me. Even though I know no one's there I can't help getting the feeling. I am extremely uncomfortable in my classrooms, especially during tests. During a test when it is silent I get this fear that I might make a noise and embarass myself. I am scared to sneeze or cough or even move slightly in my chair. I have no idea how I even made it this far or how I even continue going to school. When I was in elementary school, some teachers wanted to put me in special ed. Some just thought I was immature. These days when I tell people about my social anxiety they either think I'm exaggerating or they'll say they have it to even though they really don't and are mistaking it for simple shyness. Anyway I just came here to find people like me. I only recently discovered this was a disorder. I always thought I was just mentally ill. I know you all will understand. (also please excuse my bad grammar. I am typing this very fast in a fit of passion)
My family doesn't listen to me when I tell them my problem. They just call me shy or immature or even weird. But they just don't understand. Most of the students at my school think I'm weird and are uncomfortable around me. My anxiety has gotten both better and worse as I get older. I can now control my anxiety to an extent and understand that my fears are irrational. On the downside, I now have much more fears. I always get self-conscious when I walk and I feel like everyone is staring at me walk. I also have difficulty eating in front of others. If I am being forced to speak in front of a group I get really hot and dizzy and I start shaking and stuttering. I am terrified to go anywhere alone. (like to the store) I'm scared to go to restaurants because when I go I am too scared to order food and feel like all the people are staring at me. I'm even anxious around my family. The only time I'm mostly comfortable is when I'm alone but even then I get this irrational fear that maybe someone is there. Just maybe they're watching me. Even though I know no one's there I can't help getting the feeling. I am extremely uncomfortable in my classrooms, especially during tests. During a test when it is silent I get this fear that I might make a noise and embarass myself. I am scared to sneeze or cough or even move slightly in my chair. I have no idea how I even made it this far or how I even continue going to school. When I was in elementary school, some teachers wanted to put me in special ed. Some just thought I was immature. These days when I tell people about my social anxiety they either think I'm exaggerating or they'll say they have it to even though they really don't and are mistaking it for simple shyness. Anyway I just came here to find people like me. I only recently discovered this was a disorder. I always thought I was just mentally ill. I know you all will understand. (also please excuse my bad grammar. I am typing this very fast in a fit of passion)