Why do some people pretend to have social anxiety?

[Anonymous]

I have been afraid of people ever since i was a small child. I never had ANY friends when i went to school because i didn't talk at all. I son't talk to anyone besides my mom and sister and even they make me feel scared. Going to school every morning was a horrible struggle. I had a panic attack every morning and threw up. It was hell. Now i'm homeschooled and i still feel scared of the teacher. When she looks at me even for a second i want to rush to my room. So my mom asked hernto please not look at me. To know that someone else is in my presence makes me feel sick, anxious and i want to hide. I haven't been out in like months. Last time my mom asked me if i could go to the store with her real quick and i made her wait like 40 minutes in the car because she promised me it would be empty but there were so many people. I cried and she took me back home. A girl on here made a mytake saying she struggled with social anxiety yet the whole post talked about how she was bullied and that made her depressed. I mean what? She also said somewhere in her post that "she's finally getting ATTENTION from guys" and she's happy about it. A clear sign that she does NOT have social anxiety as people that do don't want attention. I don't understand why some people pretend to have this horrible mental illness? They're mocking people like me. Social anxiety is NOT COOL. It's hell. Sorry i needed to rant cause i'm so angry and shaky. Please can someone explain why

[Bucks-Fizz]

There's different levels and reasons for social anxiety. You can't judge another girls issues based on your own.

It's like saying someone doesn't get real panic attacks cos they can travel further than their own home town. Some people with panic attacks live within a parameter and won't go beyond it. Others don't. There's different causes , levels and reasons for a person's panic attacks

What you described seems more than just social anxiety. You seem to have underlying deep rooted issues. You have serious mental health problems

[itsallover]

There are different degrees of the severity of it. Some people may have subclinical levels, but that doesn't mean they don't suffer in everyday life. It obviously won't be to the same degree as someone who has it severely, but the impairment is still there.

I do believe that people shouldn't self-diagnose though. That's the job of a professional psychiatrist/psychologist.

[Asker]

OMG do i have to explain myself AGAIN? All cases of social anxiety are the same. Even if one person has it less severe. They are still afraid of social interaction and they are isolated most of the day. @2shy2speak never mention that in her mytake. It's not just shyness or general anxiety that every human experiences from time to time. EDUCATE YOURSELVES socialanxietyinstitute.org/what-is-social-anxiety

[itsallover]

You're seriously misguided if you think that every single case of mental illness is the exact same. Everyone is NOT the same.

Some people can learn to manage their anxiety via coping strategies they've acquired via therapy or have their anxiety lessened by taking medication. Just because someone isn't cooped in their room 24/7 doesn't mean they don't have the disorder.

[Asker]

I SAID ALL SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME NOT THE WAY HANDLE SOCIAL ANXIETY OMG GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEAD

[itsallover]

That's not true, there are core symptoms that form the basic criteria of being diagnosed with the disorder, yes. But as for all symptoms having to be met, no?

And don't be so hostile. It's making you look like a complete brat.

[itsallover]

If someone who has been officially diagnosed with social anxiety can suppress their anxiety and perform day to day activities, even though they find it difficult, would you say they don't have the disorder? Genuine question.

[Asker]

NO. i would be happy for them

[itsallover]

Then why are you saying that people HAVE to meet this set criteria to officially have it? Believe it or not, the disorder will affect different people in different ways. Some of them may have even suffered from it severely in the past, but the way they've coped with it can mean it doesn't affect their functioning to an extreme degree as it did previously. The anxiety will still be there, the way they deal with it changed.

[Asker]

Correct *

[itsallover]

Lmaoooo

[LadyTerror]

@Asker you seem to have a severe case of it. Believe it or not, not everyone who disagreed with you on this question is mocking you.

[itsallover]

Because the way in which you're overreacting and becoming hostile towards people who don't share your opinion is hilarious.

[itsallover]

Anyway, I'm done here. Good day to you.

[CHARismatic110]

You seem to have a severe case of it. Others are not as severe as that. Doesn't mean that they don't have it or that they are mocking you and your situation. Are there people that do things for attention? Sure. But not every case of social anxiety is going to look the same.

[Asker]

Yes it is. Because it's a MENTAL ILLNESS. not just some occasional feeling of anxiety and shyness like every human experiences from time to time. Most social anxiety cases are all the same symptoms. It's all actual fear of people and extreme isolation. EDUCATE YOURSELF. Read this socialanxietyinstitute.org/what-is-social-anxiety

[sierlin]

asker I'm afraid your opinion is just not correct. I myself have graduated with a masters in psychology and I want you to know that just because symptoms may share some similarities doesn't mean that every case is going to appear the same. there are different severities and rather than an illness this is a disorder. any time you deal with problems of the mind due to imbalances the symptoms might be shared but that's how you diagnose it. it doesn't mean that these people don't get the same affect. the symptoms will cause different problems for every individual and many of these people with social anxiety have the same problem that others do its just that in most cases it does not come to such a severity to where it is driving the host to do what this young lady is doing. I do assure you there are many different types of anxiety and with this article you have, I can already tell by how you talked about it that it more than likely does not have much credit to it.

[sierlin]

I will leave you to your opinion. this app is to share opinions not to force ones idea on another. I can tell your beginning to become upset with reading my comments and opinions and before I leave you I would like to remind you that I did graduate very very early and make my way through college and graduate school to gain a masters in this field and if that doesn't tell you that I know what I'm talking about then hopefully one day you will understand. have a wonderful day asker and please don't stress yourself out too much on this topic. we wouldn't want you to have an anxiety attack over something like this anyway😉

[sierlin]

you would like to point out my little comment with your anxiety but let's forget how you called me stupid and tried to disprove my life's study and education. this is your hand hold to pull yourself above me? I understand your frustrations. and believe me I will have a delightful evening

[itsallover]

@sierlin she knows you're right, that's why she's getting so worked up ;)

[Asker]

@itsallover Sureeee you tell yourself that

[CHARismatic110]

First of all, you need to calm down. Second of all, I'm well educated in it, thanks. Now, let's get into this little link that you so graciously provided.

"Social anxiety is the fear of interaction with other people that brings on self-consciousness, feelings of being negatively judged and evaluated, and, as a result, leads to avoidance.

Social anxiety is the fear of being judged and evaluated negatively by other people, leading to feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, embarrassment, humiliation, and depression.

If a person usually becomes (irrationally) anxious in social situations, but seems better when they are alone, then "social anxiety" may be the problem."

Twice in that article is says "social anxiety is fear of". Can you look at a person and automatically tell all their fears? No. Does that mean that they aren't there? No. I've dealt with social anxiety for as long as I can remember. You say "social anxiety isn't being introverted" but most introverted people have those

[CHARismatic110]

Fears listed above. You are making it like your case is the only valid case because of its severity. Downplaying someone else's situation because it's different is just as bad as mocking someone.

[sierlin]

well said

[Asker]

Sorry i was really angry for some reason. Im totally wrong. I understand now. Thanks

[normalice]

everyone wants to 'stand out' I think. So, they take what are their normal characteristics and try to exaggerate them to the point of mental illness. If they are a bit of a thrill-seeker, they'll claim to be a psycho. If they get sad sometimes, they'll claim to be bipolar. If they are a bit shy, they'll claim to have social anxiety. Just the way of teenagers, I guess..

[Asker]

I'm a teenager and I've never pretended to have a mental illness for some attention. Im actually auffering and i wish i didn't have any of my mental illness. I've actually been diagnosed by a professional therapist and I don't know it just makes me sad and angry how some people will pretend to suffer from a mental illness that ruined my life.

[normalice]

yeah, it seems fun when there isn't actually a problem to pretend there is one. But when it's a genuine affliction, that's when the fun ends. I was one of the teenagers that claimed to be 'crazy.' It was fun until I turned about 19 or so and discovered I might actually be insane. Went through a few years of paranoid introspection after that, but I'm fine now..

[JackAce]

Ha u remind me of my childhood. I know its hell. I will never make fun of people with social anxiety. wish i can help if you ever need any help you can IM me. I believe there are soul types for people with similar traits. We need to make a community of our soul tupe. Together we can be stronger and do something about it.

[Asker]

Thanks for understanding!

[JackAce]

Social anxiety took away a lot of potentially good things from my life though even struggling through it and risking panic attacks making putting myself in awkard situations i grittily managed to post graduate.

[ThatBritishLad]

It's an excuse innit? It's like people who say they're dyslexic when they're just thick, or people who say they're depressed when they're just in a bad mood.

[Asker]

People who say they have social anxiety when they're just introverted/shy..

[Asker]

@2shy2speak

[LadyTerror]

Okay, I seriously don't get you... You're the one resorting to insults when someone tries to help you and then getting mad when they disagree with you?

[Asker]

They aren't helping wtf? And yes i'm mad when people say dumb stupid shit. Especially about something i have struggled with for years.

[LadyTerror]

They were TRYING to help. You just kept shutting them down

[Asker]

Yeah sorry i was really angry.. I was being stupid

[Anonymous]

There are different types of social anxiety. Hers and others are not like yours. I'm sorry yours is so extreme but just be aware other people have social anxiety that is differnt than yours and don't be so judgement towards them because it's not the same as you

[Asker]

Let me explain again. Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. It's normal. It becomes a disorder when the anxiety and fear of people is constant like mine. Nowhere in her mytake did she mention that she isolated herself from everyone or that she even felt totally scared of people. Social anxiety is all the same. With the same symptoms. Because , it's a MENTAL ILLNESS not a feeling like just some anxiety or being shy. Educate yourself and show empathy for those who actually struggle from this illness like i do. We're not shy, we're not introverted. We are mentally ill.

[Opinion Owner]

Have a good life

[Asker]

Ok? Thanks i guess? ...

[18to30only]

some pepple just don't like to be around a lot of others its ok when you meet the 1 you won't to be with you will not be alone and you will end up happy in the end

[Bandit74]

Well there are different types of anxiety and not everyone will experience it with the same severity, but that doesn't mean theirs is less valid.

[Asker]

Look, everyone experiences anxiety. It becomes a disorder when it's constant like mine. Nowhere in her post did she mention feeling very very anxious all the time and isolating herself from everyone. Social anxiety is all the same. It all has the same symptoms. Its not common and its not something to joke about. She is misdiagnosed

[sierlin]

their are different types of anxiety. my father would get social anxiety and what it did to him was made him extremely doubtful of everyone around him. kinduh like a conspiracy theorist who thinks everyone is in the gov. except my father thought everyone was for themselves and turning on him. his anxiety made him lash out at people. rather than being scared he wanted to scream at them and bash their heads in. this is how he deals with fear. by enforcing it with anger.

[sierlin]

there are many different types of anxiety and many different ways it affects people. you seem to have a severe type of anxiety. but just because somone doesn't have it like you do or to your extent doesn't mean they are mocking it.

[Asker]

@sierlin i'm talking about the mytake owner and some ther attention seeking hoes not your father. His does seem genuine, im talking about the people who experience just a little normal anxiety feeling and automatically assume they have social anxiety

[Asker]

Other *

[sierlin]

social anxiety is nothing but a large amount of normal anxiety that is concentrated. it's all the same just different severities and different affects.

[sierlin]

it is very obvious you personality fits your age. I apologize that your stubborn and ignorance is blinding you but please trust me when I tell you to ignore these kind of things. as long as you have that young ignorance mind set your mind will be blinded from reality. this is bliss. please take it considerably because nobody ever does and once they realize what it is, it is already gone

[Asker]

What are you talking about? Stop mentioning my age. Yes, im 16 . That doesn't mean i'm ignorant and atubborn wtf. JUST EDUCATE YOURSEL ON MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEN YOUR OPINION WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. BYEEE

[sierlin]

Oh believe me I have and once again the correct term for this is a disorder. mental disorder. have fun in highschool

[Asker]

Thing *

[sierlin]

an illness and a disorder are two completely different "things" I'm afraid. an illness can be transmitted and is contagious as well as curable. a disorder simply is not.

[sierlin]

there are many other differences but IL let you figure this out

[Asker]

OH THATS RIGHT. YOU DONT KNOW JACK SHIT ABOUT IT. EXPOSED!!

[Anonymous]

I think you answered your own question: It's to get attention...

[Asker]

It makes me so angry tbh.

[Opinion Owner]

I understand. People do all kinds of stuff to get attention. Most of it is not good...

[cheeseNwine]

no one pretends this.

[Anonymous]

what is social aniexty exactly?

[Asker]

socialanxietyinstitute.org/what-is-social-anxiety

[lumberman9]

For sympathy

[lumberman9]

which is bad because you have those who really have it and they're mistaken for looking for attention when they have serious problems