Is social anxiety a disability?

[emre43]

My university has offered me disability allowance but I have never thought of myself as being disabled. I would feel that I would have a stigma attached to me if I accepted it. Do you consider yourself to be disabled?

 

[NightsWatchBro]

Maybe, because it actually prevents me to do some stuffs like talking to people.

 

[Etbow23]

Wow, what's disability allowance?
I think it is, well..depending on the severity of the case. I think in some respects it is a disability because it can be debilitating and prevent you from doing things...however in some respects giving someone disability for it could only make things worse because then they would have an excuse to stay holed up in their house all day and not work or do anything.

 

[emre43]

Wow, what's disability allowance?
I think it is, well..depending on the severity of the case. I think in some respects it is a disability because it can be debilitating and prevent you from doing things...however in some respects giving someone disability for it could only make things worse because then they would have an excuse to stay holed up in their house all day and not work or do anything.

Disability allowance is used in the UK as a means to pay for travel expenses and additional equipment that you may require as a result of your disability.

I agree with you that it could be used as an excuse to stay holed up. I am going to reject it.

 

[Shade]

I think in some respects it is a disability because it can be debilitating and prevent you from doing things...however in some respects giving someone disability for it could only make things worse because then they would have an excuse to stay holed up in their house all day and not work or do anything.

^This is a great point.

To answer your question, yes, I think it is an actual disability. SA is more than a mere problem; it steals years away from you. We all have gifts and talents that are needed in our societies, but SA prevents us from truly becoming what we are meant to be. I feel stunted, deformed and wounded, but I'm slowly healing. This condition has taught me patience and the ability to epathize with others who are hurting.

 

[Etbow23]

^This is a great point.

To answer your question, yes, I think it is an actual disability. SA is more than a mere problem; it steals years away from you. We all have gifts and talents that are needed in our societies, but SA prevents us from truly becoming what we are meant to be. I feel stunted, deformed and wounded, but I'm slowly healing. This condition has taught me patience and the ability to epathize with others who are hurting.

You're right, it really does prevent us from becoming who we were meant to be.

 

[Azael]

In my opinion, it is the hardest disability to overcome. You cannot simply put a plaster on destroyed emotions and a battered mind. They don't heal on their own easily either. You can plough through every psychology book you can think of and still you won't even scratch the surface of the complexities of each disorder and their individual cases, such is the complexity of these damaged facets of ourself. So yes, I would consider it a disability.