The Difference between Social Anxiety and Shyness?

[Secret]

Hey
Can anyone tell me the difference between Social Anxiety / SA and shyness?... I can't figure it out what is wrong with me... I'm just so nervous every day and I hate myself so much because of it...

 

[Helyna]

The amount it effects you, essentially. If it's really messing up your life, it's Social Anxiety Disorder/Social Phobia. Social anxiety itself is just a form of shyness where you actively worry about what other people are thinking of you. It sounds like you have a real problem.

 

[Hoth]

If you walk away from people, you're shy. If you run away from people and hide under your bed for a week, you're SA.

 

[Secret]

if you're on this site, your shyness has become SA. get help ASAP.

Just because I don't like to go to the doctors doesn't mean I have it?... I could also just be a hypochondria... I'm not but it could be like that...

 

[Walk]

If you're shy to the degree that it sends your life down the toilet.

Now, I don't know if that's the formal definition in psychology... but that's mine and it's accurate in my case.

It's not just stage fright, it's fear to do almost everything involving people and exposing yourself.