Very often people who are naturally shy are mislabeled as having social phobia, while the symptoms are somewhat similar they are two different things, shyness can affect people of all ages but more usually shows in younger people.
Very often shyness starts in adolescence when young people are just finding their feet but it can persevere into adulthood. Shyness is often linked to self-consciousness and while very often it dissipates as the teenager grows into adult hood and gains more confidence it can be a big problem.
While shyness can be uncomfortable for those affected, it generally doesn’t cause too many problems as long as it doesn’t get out of hand and develop into something more serious.
This is when shyness and social phobias can begin to overlap, if the shyness begins to have a detrimental effect such as interfering with normal day-to-day living.
It is one thing to feel nervous and uncomfortable when meeting strangers for the first time, however if the person should feel nervous to a degree that it stops them or they begin making excuses not to be in situations then they might need help.
Tips for helping overcome basic shyness are
* Put yourself deep into the conversation with others, ask them questions and listen intently to answers, remember what they say so that you can bring these issues up later if need be
* If you are good at socialising then other people pick up on your confidence and feel at ease, remember the people you are conversing with and meeting for the first time could be just as nervous as you are
* Don’t focus the conversation on yourself by using too many pronouns, conversations that continually start with “I” can get pretty boring for the person listening and focus attention on you
* Instead of looking to the event in question with dread, think of it as an opportunity to better yourself and make a step forward towards dealing with your shyness. Imagine what it will be like to actual enjoy meeting new people if you overcame your shyness
The symptoms of shyness
Being shy can cause the sufferer a wide variety of problems most of which are related to anxiety and stress, the symptoms of shyness can be felt in varying degrees, the more common symptoms of shyness include:
* Excessive sweating
* Sticky hands or sweating hands
* A bright red flush to the cheeks
* A shortness of breath
* A tight feeling in the chest
* A feeling of dread
* Tension headaches
* A feeling of terror
All of these symptoms of course relate to other conditions such as anxiety and panic attacks, therefore if the symptoms are severe enough to cause you to avoid situations then it is advisable to visit your Doctor, as you could need medication to help you deal with the attacks and the symptoms.
