What is social anxiety disorder?

I've often wondered if I have social anxiety disorder.





I do NOT like to talk to people I don't know, and will actually be rude so people will not talk to me.





I feel like I want to jump out of my skin when I am with a group of people.





At work, I am fine, this is just outside of work in normal social situations.





I don't know what is wrong with me, but now that I have children and don't relate well with the other parents, I can honestly look and see "hey...I may have a problem here".





Any ideas?

What is social anxiety disorder?
You get anxious when you are around people. It is social anxiety disorder. You should seek help to get medicine for it. At work you are fine because you are use to going to work and use to the people you work with....its routine. In normal social situations you feel uneasy because its different to you...it will never be the same.
Reply:Seek a counselor, internet diagnoses are impossible.





*WOW that above advise slapped a lable on you as fast as she could, then suggested medicine for something she knows nothing about. Please seek a professional.
Reply:This does sound pretty much like classic SAD. Do you also avoid eye contact? How about making phone calls or even answering the phone? Those can also be traits.





For many people, SAD affects them largely among people whose opinions of them really matter--in social situations far more than at work. They care more about what fellow students think than their professors, for instance.





It responds pretty well to self-medication--a single drink can work wonders--but that doesn't really address the underlying issues. A psychologist can help with that, as well as with deconditioning exercises which can make it easier to function. Sometimes they prescribe a mild antidepressant during that period while you learn that you can too talk to people.
Reply:I used to have major troubles with this when I was younger. Especially around a certain class or group of people.


What I found worked for me is when I had to go somewhere new. ( If possible) I'd take along someone I knew well that understood me. Especially if they knew the group or some of the people as well. or If I didnt know any of them I'd call some one on the list of people I was to meet to try to get to know them a bit and feel some sort of common grounds with them. So when I met them it wasnt as terrifying to me .





About other parents. I often met the kids first because my children knew them from school. So i kind of had an idea of what kind of home they came from.


I am the kind of parent that feels the need to know what my kids' friends are like and feel I need to meet the parents of those kids so I have some idea of what kind of people my kids associate with.


Look for one common interests you might have with one other parent. Like if your kids are small and they like a certain cartoon or show and have the figures or toys you can ask them about them. or If your kids do activities in school then you can seek out parents of others kids in those groups.





I used to run a support group here for people with the same problem as me. I found I was ok to speak if I was sitting down. but if I had to stand in front of them my palms would get all sweaty, and I'd begin to shake, I'd secretly hope they couldnt tell that I was. I still have a fear of public speaking. However I'm told that no one knows at all. It doesnt show when I'm there doing the speaking or whatever. Often we perceive ourselves as coming across to others the way we feel inside . When really it doesnt show.





so slowly broaden your spaces. by picking things you feel comfortable with. Like maybe inviting a co workers family over for dinner, or go out with the families instead. As if you know one person ( your co worker) then you have some idea what their families could be like and that person is a buffer for you while getting to know who they live with.


Also if you have a dog and can take him / her for a walk in the park etc, you can talk to people you see that also have dogs. slowly build yourself up like that. without knowing it, some of those feelings will calm down some. Then if you see those people out again you can smile at them and say a brief hello. and so on.


There are other ways I learned to fight my fears of this kind of thing. As I'm a person that likes to be around people. However I do have fears of meeting certain kinds of people. Especially if I hear things about them before I do get to meet them.


Also say a brief prayer to God before you go in. (or whatever you believe in) To help build your confidence up.opening yourself up to new people can be scarey


It is much easier to do here , because we dont have to see each other. So we don't know the emotions or reactions on their faces, or body languages only their words or comments .





Good Luck.
Reply:Get more information about some ways to overcome your fear, anxiety and phobia at my profile.