Shyness, or social anxiety?

[Luxmundi]

Do you think there is a difference between anxiety and shyness?
I often suffer from this debilitating situation, in social situations i become semi mute - even though i desperatly want to speak and know what to say!
I read this article based on scientific research: Alcohol seems to exaggerate the normal personality. The extrovert becomes more extroverted while the introvert becomes more withdrawn.
At home i am extremely loud, talkative, incessent. I've always been the leader of my siblings and friends. But around strangers, particularly authority, i clam. I was never teased at school because i always stood up for myself, but i have a terrible anxiety about ridicule. Alcohol reduces my anxiety and i know from other people, that when i've had even one drink i become very chatty witty and articulate...like i am with my family and close friends.
Am i a repressed extrovert with an anxiety issue? Or am i a naturally shy introvert?

 

[Helyna]

I think that social phobia is shyness taken past a normal point. When it messes up your life (as it sounds like it is doing to you), this is social phobia. Both are anxiety. One is a disorder (Social Phobia = Social Anxiety Disorder), the other isn't. I also think, as you seem to, that SP/SAD happens to extroverts and shyness doesn't. That makes sense; extroverted people with social anxiety would have a lot more trouble handling things, and it would become a real problem. Extroversion seems surprisingly common in people with SP/SAD. Many - maybe most - children who are too frightened to speak at all around strangers (Selectively Mute) are the noisiest, bossiest, wildest ones when they're comfortable.

 

[Psilopa]

I think that social phobia is shyness taken past a normal point. When it messes up your life (as it sounds like it is doing to you), this is social phobia. Both are anxiety. One is a disorder (Social Phobia = Social Anxiety Disorder), the other isn't. I also think, as you seem to, that SP/SAD happens to extroverts and shyness doesn't. That makes sense; extroverted people with social anxiety would have a lot more trouble handling things, and it would become a real problem. Extroversion seems surprisingly common in people with SP/SAD. Many - maybe most - children who are too frightened to speak at all around strangers (Selectively Mute) are the noisiest, bossiest, wildest ones when they're comfortable.

Well, I am an introvert with SP. Perhaps it explains why I am don't have depression to boot. I have to say I cannot see how SP would be a bigger problem for extroverts though, it is bad enough as it is Also, being noisy, bossy or wild has nothing to do with introversion/extroversion - introverts just don't behave so outside their comfort zone, ie. in public.