Hinojosa 1

Olivia Hinojosa
Mr.Munoz
English DC - 5th
12-15-14
Social Anxiety: How is it different from shyness?
Are we a society of Anxiety?

Shyness tends to typically be confused with Social Anxiety. In the article Asocial and
afraid: An examination of shyness and anxiety in emerging adulthood, when asked how they
feel in a social setting, a man with shyness states I feel tense when I am with people I dont
know well. Whereas a person suffering with a diagnosed Social Anxiety, states I feel painful
self-conscious when Im around strangers. There is a distinction between those who experience
SAD and those shy individuals who simply report more fear in social settings than their non-shy
peers (Barry). While shyness is a personal issue and can create many problems in children, social
anxiety is a mental illness that creates similar, but more extreme, problems.
According to the article Shyness in late childhood: relations with attributional styles and
self-esteem, [S]hyness refers to feelings of embarrassment and discomfort in social situations,
especially those that involve strangers or unfamiliar people. Shyness is the uncomfortable
feeling in social settings where communication with strangers is present. Symptoms of shyness
include blushing, sweating, a pounding heart, or upset stomach. Studies show that persistent
feelings of shyness may be associated to social or psychological problems in children. According
to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, [S]hyness, social withdrawal, and social isolation are not listed as mental disorders.

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However, they are in fact closely associated, and can be a precursor of Social Anxiety Disorder.
Shyness is considered a milder version of Social Anxiety Disorder at the end of the socially
anxious continuum (Greco). Shyness has proven to affect peoples lives in negative matters.
Shyness had been linked to lower quality relationships and according to the article Shyness and
Relationship Satisfaction: Evaluating the Associations Between Shyness, Self- esteem, and
Relationship Satisfaction in Couples, problems and distress in marriage. People who struggle
with shyness tend to cut back on communication, which is essential in a healthy marriage and
relationship. Shyness makes communication and openness harder to obtain and use. People with
shyness tend to not want to interact and choose to stay home which lessens their ability to
communicate and meet people. However, people with Anxiety, even if they want to go out, have
fear and cannot interact with others without going into a type of panic.
Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by a marked and persistent fear of one more
social performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible
scrutiny by others(Greco). Statistics show that Social Anxiety Disorder affects nearly 1 in 10
adolescents with only 7% out of 9% receiving treatment(Greco). According to the article When
to get anxious about social anxiety disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is among the most
prevalent of the anxiety disorders. Symtoms of Social Anxiety Disorder include sweating, heart
palpitations, muscle tension, or upset stomache (Greco). Symptoms of SAD tend to last of a
duration between ten and thirty years, after treatment (Greco). Anxiety is not typically seen in
just adults, it is seen in all ages, from childhood to full adulthood (Greco). Social Anxiety
Disorder affects many aspects of life, but has mainly been proven to develop higher levels of
impairment in childrens social and academic functioning. Social Anxiety Disorder can even
cause additional psychiatric disorders, such as depression and substance disorders (Burstein).

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Hendriks speaks in her article Two year course of anxiety disorders: different across disorders
of dimensions that [a]nxiety disorders are associated with a high burden of disease because of
psychosocial and functional impairments. In indivuduals with anxiety disorders, the anxiety is
out of proportion to the actual threat. The fear is not usually rational, which is why it negatively
affects the victim, as well as their family and friends. Social Anxiety Disorders affect peoples
lives in many different ways. Social Anxiety Disorder affects romantic relationships, just like
shyness does. However, Social Anxiety Disorder patients prove to have long-term problems
when in any relationship. Being a mental illness, Social Anxiety Disorder affects the chemicals
in the brain that keep a person calm and feeling safe. Being worried or fearful around people
impairs communication and connection between people. Not being able to communicate with
your spouse can not only increase problems within the relationship, but also with their friends
and family.
Anxiety has proven to interfere the lives of many famous icons in our world today.
Johnny Depp, Emma Stone, Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe are only a couple examples of
celebrities who have suffered with Anxiety Disorders. Most of them speak out about the trouble
they have had performing and recording movies with their mental illness. This trouble does not
compare to the problems of shy individuals, where stage fright is a only a temporary problem in
large crowds. The effects of Anxiety go on and on and differ in different circumstances and with
different levels of Anxiety. Anxiety has been proven to drastically change lives and the way
these victims view the world. Anxiety does not just stop at affecting social aspects. Along side of
the external sweating and blushing of Anxiety is the hidden internal bondage of Anxiety.
We have seen that Social Anxiety has affected many people in many different ways, but
the big question is: are we a society of anxiety? People in todays society tend to dimish the real

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effects of an Anxiety Disorder. They do not associate it as an illness. However, despite popular
opinion, Anxiety Disorders are diseases that change the chemicals in the brain and turn on the
flight or fight response continuously. Anxiety is frowned upon in todays society. Only 7%
out of 9% get treated, because most people do not see anxiety as a threat to health. According to
the article, The SAD Stress Anxiety Depression Sruggle of our Society, Richard Boyd states
that [w]e are in a society where we want to function and will give up a lot of our authentic self
in order to be able to soldier on no matter how dysfunctional that marching step may be. We try
to prevail and to keep going as we are starting to fall apart. We are a society of anxiety, and it is
important that we open our eyes to the problems anxiety can cause.

Works Cited
Barry, Carolyn McNamara, Larry J Nelson, and Jennifer L Christofferson. "Asocial And Afraid:
An Examination Of Shyness And Anxiety In Emerging Adulthood."Journal Of Family
Studies 19.1 (2013): 2-18. Academic Search Complete. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
Burstein, Marcy. "When To Get Anxious About Social Anxiety Disorder."Contemporary
Pediatrics 29.12 (2012): 32-42. CINAHL Complete. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.

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Chan, S., M., and A. K. Y. Wong. "Shyness In Late Childhood: Relations With Attributional
Styles And Self-Esteem." Child: Care, Health & Development 39.2 (2013): 213-219.
CINAHL Complete. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
Greco, Laurie A.Morris, Tracy L. "Treating Childhood Shyness And Related Behavior:
Empirically Evaluated Approaches To Promote Positive Social Interactions." Clinical
Child & Family Psychology Review 4.4 (2001): 299-318. Psychology and Behavioral
Sciences Collection. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
Hendriks, Sanne M., et al. "Two-Year Course Of Anxiety Disorders: Different Across Disorders
Or Dimensions?." Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 128.3 (2013): 212-221.Academic
Search Complete. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
Porter, Eliora Chambless, Dianne L. "Shying Away From A Good Thing: Social Anxiety In
Romantic Relationships." Journal Of Clinical Psychology 70.6 (2014): 546-561.
Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
"Simply Not Coping - The SAD (Stress, Anxiety, Depression) Struggle of Our Society." The
SAD Stress Anxiety Depression Struggle of Our Society. Richard Boyd, 2014. Web. 04
Dec. 2014.
Tackett, Sarah, L., Larry, J. Nelson, and Dean, M. Busby. "Shyness And Relationship
Satisfaction: Evaluating The Associations Between Shyness, Self-Esteem, And
Relationship Satisfaction In Couples." American Journal Of Family Therapy 41.1 (2013):
34-45. CINAHL Complete. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.