onefourthree
New member
I know that I can only really be diagnosed by a professional, but I'd really like your guys opinions on this. I'm really having a hard time figuring out whether I actually have social anxiety or not. I'm really nervous to go to a doctor, which is why I haven't been officially diagnosed or anything. I hear that having panic attacks is a big part of having social anxiety, but thing is, I don't believe I've EVER had a panic attack. I left public school in 7th grade and have taken online classes since, mainly because I was scared I'd embarrass myself in front of people at school. I get very nervous to talk on the phone because I always think I won't know what to say and stuff like that. I don't call people for fear of bothering them. When I do talk on the phone, like when it's ringing, my heart beats really really fast and I get nauseous, but then when I start talking I calm down and feel fine. I rarely leave my house, there was one point in time that I didn't really go out in public for an entire year. I did, however, go to my dad's house every Saturday. I don't have a license because I'm scared to go take the test. I have to take tests every year for school that are a requirement to graduate, and I've actually avoided them before because I was nervous to go. I didn't go last year or the year before. I'm 18 and seriously not even close to being done with high school. I've got about a year and a half to go, I just need to go and take those tests, but I just get so nervous. The thing is, I don't know if this is social anxiety or not. I DO get nervous, but not to the point of having an anxiety attack. Like if somebody forced me to go, I probably would just do it and be okay. I feel like I just give up because I'm nervous. But it's extreme nervousness. Also, I'm mainly nervous around teenagers/people my age, which is a little weird. I heard many people are anxious around authority figures. I seem to be the opposite. I do just feel really uncomfortable around people in general, though. Another thing is I've never had a job before. I'm too scared to go around asking for applications, because I think I'll look dumb. Whenever friends want to go somewhere, I always say I can't or make up an excuse from being nervous. Also, during most situations I always end up thinking of all the things that could go wrong, like literally every little negative thing. I guess I'm just having a hard time distinguishing between social anxiety and just shyness. And whether I COULD actually do these things or I just don't because I give up too easily. Agh. I'm sorry if this post is all over the place, I'm just really confused and I'm trying to list my symptoms. I hope someone can help! I'd really like opinions.
