How to tell the difference between shyness and social anxiety

If you quiver at the thought of public speaking or become flustered when someone offers you a compliment, you're not alone. Nearly everyone has experienced a bout of shyness but social anxiety is a medical condition that should be treated.

What some describe as 'painful shyness' can cause people to avoid situations that make them feel shy. It can stop them from going outside, speaking in public or being alone with people they don't know. It can even cause a person to stop speaking altogether. While shyness and social anxiety share quite a few symptoms and may overlap, here is how to tell the different between these two different conditions.

Shyness is a feeling of awkward-worry that presents itself in social situations. It normally occurs around unfamiliar or very emotional situations, though it can happen when speaking to a boss, co-worker, teacher or even a parent. Symptoms of shyness include:

• Itchy palms
• Sweating (such as sweaty hands)
• Lightheadedness
• Stammering
• Upset stomach
• Heart palpitations

In many cases, shyness is completely normal and can sometimes even be beneficial, keep you on your toes in tense situations. While shyness is not necessarily social anxiety, it can lead to it if the symptoms are severe enough.

Social anxiety is a crippling phobia that causes a person to completely avoid social situations, such as speaking in public. Social anxiety can even make a person physically ill. Psychologists describe it as an intense, irrational fear of being judged or scrutinized. The symptoms include the ones listed above, as well as feeling faint and weak in the knees. People suffering from social anxiety have even been known to run from uncomfortable situations. While counselling can benefit both people who are shy and those dealing with social anxiety, people with social anxiety may additionally need medication to function well day-to-day.

Untreated social anxiety can spiral into agoraphobia (the fear of leaving the home) and other related phobias. The good news is that social phobias can be treated, allowing many people with even severe anxiety to lead well-adjusted and productive lives, if not lives free of common shyness.