The Side We Can't See

definitions

Shyness, social anxiety, social phobia...These terms are often used interchangeably, although their meanings are quite different and can lead to confusion and misunderstanding.

Anxiety: is a feeling of uneasiness, apprehension, and/or dread about a real or imagined future event. It is tied to a sense that these unpleasant events are particularly unpredictable and uncontrollable, and therefore accompanied by an uncomfortable level of uncertainty.

Shyness: is a feeling of timidity, apprehension, or discomfort in at least some social situations. This term is often used to describe personality disposition or temporary events, and is less frequently in reference to a mental health concern.

Social anxiety: a feeling of uneasiness, dread, or apprehension about social interaction and presentation. Frequently, the primary concern fueling social anxiety is a concern that no one will be (or is being) judged negatively by other people, regardless of whether this is actually the case. The experience of occasional, mild social anxiety is quite common, as is the experience of anxiety in general. Social anxiety can range from a relatively benign, infrequent level of severity to being a major hindrance in everyday life.

Social anxiety disorder or social phobia: are mental health diagnosis used to describe a level of social anxiety that is so distressing, excessive, and/or pervasive that it is significantly interfering with an individual's quality of life. The feared or avoided situations in social phobia can be very narrow and specific, or may extend to the majority of one's interaction with others.