Is this social anxiety?

[theslowesthand]

--> Being afraid to go abroad (ie public places) due to fear of put-downs/ridicule/etc?

Is it social anxiety, or simply a practical well-informed lifestyle choice to avoid/minimize such pain?

(ie did The Elephant Man have "social anxiety"?)

 

[buggy]

I don't think anyone choses a social anxiety "life-style".. it's not exactly a fun condition if you ask me.

But as for what defines it the behavioral signs you listed are definitely reminiscent of social phobia. There's a pretty big distinction between simply experiencing anxiety about upcoming events (something everyone is susceptible to every now and then) and letting it rule your life though. If the feelings and acts of avoidance are gravely interfering with your social/personal life then that can serve as an initial hint that something maybe amiss.

Whether the elephant man had social anxiety I really couldn't tell you. I've only seen the movie but it should stand for itself that someone with such a serious disability would have trouble adjusting to a normal lifestyle.

 

[cosmosis]

Is it social anxiety, or simply a practical well-informed lifestyle choice to avoid/minimize such pain?

Basically yes. Not really a conscious choice, but a choice that your brain does make. Your brain wants to stop or avoid the pain more than it wants to enjoy social life.

 

[theslowesthand]

Your brain wants to stop or avoid the pain more than it wants to enjoy social life

I've always viewed "social life"/"socialising" & "enjoyment" as 2 mutually enclusive things .. but thats just me for ya


So maybe i have:
1) standard bread'n'butter social anxiety (nervous/tense in social situations)
and
2) social anixety "PLUS" (complete avoidance of all things social)

 

[cosmosis]

I've always viewed "social life"/"socialising" & "enjoyment" as 2 mutually enclusive things .. but thats just me for ya

Exactly, I think that's the point and I think most people with social anxiety see it that way. A normal person who doesn't have social anxiety isn't that way because they simply don't fear social interaction - they are that way because they enjoy the social interaction *more* than they fear it.

 

[Phobologist]

See my post on Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder