I get so happy when people leave me alone so i can finally breath.

I avoid even talking in class, I am not scared of talking, I’m scared of what people think of me, and I am scared of being wrong.

I wish I could find a friend with the same problem so we can get over it together

i think my "shyness" from childhood has turned into social anxiety as a young adult

I took F’s in class rather than doing presentations y’all. School systems don’t realize social and public speaking anxiety is a real thing.

I'm worried about not finding a Job because of social anxiety

The acronym for Social Anxiety Disorder is S.A.D , how suiting.

every time i try to speak up and talk for once, people go "omg she can talk?" and it really just takes me back to not talking at all. i really wish people would stop doing that to me

I'm more scared around people i know than to strangers

Exposure therapy is what helped me. Everyone called me “shy” and “awkward” and nobody really told me what to do to change that. I don’t think they realized how uncomfortable social situations were for me. They thought I was “just shy” or “just awkward.” I started putting myself in social situations, saying hi to strangers on the street, and speaking in front of groups more often. I got better at it. This is what worked for me. You can change.

My social anxiety kills me and my family is just like “she’s so shy” “she doesn’t talk much” all of that and to speak to strangers I’m so awkward and quiet and it’s so weird. I hate myself for this 😔

It’s genuinely so weird to me to think that other people don’t feel like this all the freaking time 😭

I still get that anxious feeling of being judged around friends I’ve known for awhile and it sucks cuz I can never get comfortable

I wanna cry just thinking about the steps of this ladder...

Having social anxiety and being in this comment section knowing other people go through the same daily struggles as me makes me feel happy knowing I’m not the only one. Don’t worry guys we will get through it! hopefully..

I really kept telling myself itll go with age💀

I've been avoiding getting a job for 3 years due to social anxiety/avoidant personality disorder. I feel most anxious when I'm around people who might see me as stupid or incompetent. Telephone conversations are a major trigger 😦

I'm so tired of being socially anxious. I just want to feel normal, and not feeling like I am a sore thumb at every social situation I've been to

i had social anxiety, I used to hate being in crowded places/busses, I used to hate talking with people and maintain eye contact, I used to hate going to places alone, I used to hate going on my bike and ride to school/home. but I found a way to cure it and it genuinely helped. I forced myself to go to crowed places, I forced myself to talk to others, I forced myself doing phone/video calls, I forced myself asking strangers questions, I forced to go on self dates. and it really worked, I'm still training myself and I got more social and way more confident and I'm proud of myself.

Exposure therapy is the only way I was able to overcome my social anxiety. I was selectively mute as a child and a very socially anxious teenager. My Mom would do things with me like practice making phone calls or pretending to go to the dentist and checking in with the receptionist. Then after practicing with her for a while she would make me go and actually do whatever we'd been working on. I'm still a shy introvert and sometimes still very anxious at large parties or events but I am now a successful business owner and mostly normal person😉 able to function daily without debilitating anxiety. Thanks Mom!!!

As a 49 year old Black woman I've suffered from Social Anxiety Disorder for all my teen and adult life. Dealing with racism and colorism (especially from family... I'm very dark skinned) I just learned how to shut down socially. And stay by myself. I'm getting ready to go to back to therapy. I hope it works. I feel alone all the time. And especially since I've never been married or never had children. I hope I can get over this. We'll see.

This disorder has influenced every single important decision that I've ever made in my life, from my choice of profession to the person I married. I had fear of writing and eating in front of others, which was extremely inhibiting. I had dreams of becoming a professional singer and musician, but the stage fright was unbearable. So I became an engineer (to please my father) and couldn't handle the meetings and presentations. Finally I settled on being a homemaker and mother, instilling confidence in my children and finding joy in their achievements. One is a professional singer/songwriter and musician and the other is a software engineer (and also an accomplished musician). I was honest with them about what held me back, and I did everything I could to help them overcome their fears. I'm 65 now, and have considerable regret for the things that I allowed this disorder to prevent me from being and doing. My only solace is in the knowledge that I brought two amazing human beings into the world. Back in the 70s when I first started having unreasonable fears, nobody had defined this as a disorder (as far as I knew) and my parents were against any kind of psychological treatment. I couldn't talk to them about what was happening, and thought I was the only person in the world with this terrible problem. And I couldn't tell anyone! It was my shameful secret that I carried for years, until around my early 30s when I finally sought help. I was astonished to discover that I was not the only one with this disorder and that there was a name for it - social phobia, or as it's now called, social anxiety disorder.

I feel anxious even around my family members afraid of them judging me even though they don’t seem like judgemental people. I feel social anxiety even when I’m asked about something as simple as my interests. I feel self conscious about my looks, the way I talk, the way I come off when I talk. I over analyze conversations I’ve had months to almost a few years ago. Deep down I know they don’t matter as much as I think they do.

i think i have social anxiety disorder, i always feel like people are staring and laughing at me in public places, whenever i try to got to a club with my friends i feel so awkward i want to leave. whenever i go to the grocery store, i feel like im constantly being watched so i end up dropping something. so frustrating

How I wish I did not have this disorder. It has embarrassed me all my life.

As someone with Social Anxiety Disorder, even the start of the ladder brought tears to my eyes. 😳🥴

i didn't leave my house for seven years. after years of therapy and medication im finally able to do things i thought I'd never do. I'm still pretty anxiously, but things are definitely better... when i remember what i went through for a decade i just can't believe I'm here

Can't I talk to dogs instead? They dont judge me

I quit college because I couldn't stand in front of people and do presentations. I gave up

I used to wear masks to deal with social anxiety. But it was hard once I decided not to hide behind them anymore. Having to wear real masks during Covid has been such a relief. Now I don't want to take them off.

Social anxiety may not even have a look on the outside. It may come off as bitchiness or rudeness; ignoring people, or saying nothing when greeted. People don’t believe me when I say I am nervous, because on the outside, I am hard, like a stone.

I even get anxiety talking to friends I’ve know for years. It’s like I always overthink everything from where I should look to how to hold a non awkward posture. I’m in constant stress until I’m alone I hate it😔

I was so anxious that I stopped seeing my even psychiatrist thinking that he would judge me negatively

Just talking about doing things out of my comfort zone gets my heart rate up. I've done plenty of things out of my comfort zone, but the anxiety is always there. I hardly ever if at all feel comfortable. No matter how many times I do it. The preliminary anxiety may lessen the more I do something, but the anxiety during it, and the berating myself afterwards for a real or perceived screw up are always there.

Social anxiety been with me all my life. It started in primary school, I used to get teased and bullied all the time which created this thing in me.. that if i stay quiet and avoid people i will not get judged and feel better about myself. Whenever i visit places or experience anything new and out of my comfort zone I would feel my heart pounding so fast, sweat a lot, and shake sometimes, and rarely, i would feel dizzy from the amount of pressure that is being put in me with all of this. I stutter a lot when i talk to new people or engage in any conversation with my classmates, i’d sometimes stay quiet and make it awkward. Recently i had to take my midterm exams in a hall full of people and let me tell you i struggled a lot to act normal and calm. I know that this thing cannot really be cured so i often try to do things out of my comfort zone even if it makes me experience all of this.

For years I’ve had anxiety & I really wish to overcome it.

Just walking into Walmart is challenging for me. “People are judging me” “they think I’m too fat” “what someone I know sees me” “what if I see someone cute?, I look a mess” “never good enough”. One time I started to freak out so bad walking into Walmart that I had to stand in a corner and breathe facing the wall.

I grew up in a home where I was constantly being put in the corner by my parents and siblings. I was never allowed to voice my opinion in serious matters and when they finally let we speak, they'd say I dont make sense, but later they'll end up using my idea. I know they love me but and they did all these things simply because I'm the last child. I grew up with that mentality that I was never good enough. And now that I'm older, I know I can be better but I feel so anxious each time I see a large group of people. I feel like I'm constantly being watched or laughed at e.t.c. I want to rid myself of this unhealthy way of living but I dont know how. Sometimes I feel so depressed and I just lock myself inside my room and shut the world outside.

This comment section is filled with people who have the same exact problem I have. Getting pressure from family to get a job Avoiding getting a job for years getting a job and quitting immediately due to extreme social anxiety Avoiding going to restaurants some of you can't talk to your own mothers, It happened to me once Avoiding being in groups or doing group work in school/college/university

In grad school, there were multiple times where I quite literally went blind during presentations. Like, my brain just shut off my vision and all would go black for a minute or two. I've always been able to greet my symptoms with humor at least, because I do know how silly it is, but still can be very frustrating to lose control of one's voice, hands, neck, or vision when in the middle of a demonstration or when teaching a seminar. I do this kind of task daily for work, so I'm very emotionally comfortable when presenting to groups, but my body still lets me down often. I now adapt my presentations to ensure I can successfully complete the task even without fine motor control.

I seriously started crying today cause i was to scared to go downstairs and talk to a relative

I really wouldn't ever be able to talk to a random stranger in a store, because I'd have no reason to talk to them, and I'd feel too weird. I find that much more difficult than giving a speech. When I have to give a speech, I have a legitimate reason to be speaking and an audience already prepared to listen to me, so I gain confidence from that. It's approaching people and initiating conversation with strangers that I can't do. Almost all my friends are people who I've been introduced to through other friends. I don't think I've independently made a friend on my own initiative in 25 years.

It's hard to be social when almost every time you're around people your brain tells you they hate you or think you're useless or a nuisance. But then when I'm completely alone and comfortable, those thoughts are gone. Not even being aware of it can help it.

just listening to her taking about the steps to do to overcome social anxiety made me incredibly anxious

"talk with a stranger" NOPE.

Giving compliments to someone you dont know is something I've tried and it does help me feel better.

I remember this in college I had to give a presentation and I couldn’t face the audience. It’s like my mouth couldn’t talk and my teeth started chattering. 30 plus students and I stuttered and almost passed out. I take medication for it but whew I’m glad I overcame it. Prayer helped me a ton.

Everyone bullies me in school and when I go outside. That's my I'm getting social anxious day by day. I hate this world

Never went to college because of this disorder

Okay so my story: I'm not scared of really talking to people. But when I do, I just feel that they don't really are interested in the stuff that I say and that they would rather not listen to me, because theyre wasting their time. That's why I don't talk that much and exclude myself out of conversations because I think they just see me as the one boring person that is there but not really at the same time. And that's how I'm being treated, like I don't matter, like I'm just an extra. So I rather to stay out of this whole social thing completely and lose myself in my own world (homework, school work, music, books, writing, my family, films and serieses). These things make everything seems like home, like my own little world and I'm happy with that. But I sometimes feel so awkward when I'm in social situations, like I'm doing literally EVERYTHING wrong and that the other people think I'm such a weirdo. But that's the worst thing I can do and I know that. So from now on I'm going to fight my social anxiety and become a better person!!! ❤️

I even get heart racing by just thinking " do i need to participate in this" at class.

Does anyone feel their heart racing while walking into the gym 🙈😏

my social anxiety has gone through the roof after the lockdown. my mind works best when i am working and have daily interactions with people but i havent worked in 7 months (last year i was pretty much victorious against my social anxiety) . now i wake up dreading the day ahead , fearing of meeting up with people and them noticing im nervous. trying my best to get out of it and put myself in uncomfortable situations but my goodness it is difficult. every waking moment of the day with a lingering anxiety of ''what if''situations in my head. I overcame it before and I will overcome again. We are all in this together xxx

I’m 24, and I have very bad social Anxiety and I am selectively mute. I tend to overthink myself in conversations. But I’m working on it and will keep trying. I’ve came so far I tend to rush out of conversations, even though deep down I’d love to have them.

I have never liked to describe myself as “shy” It’s always been deeper in a way. The only thing that has helped me speaking in class or holding a speech has been that the things I’m speaking about are facts or an assignment and not personal things. Therefore I might seem cool speaking in front of the class but freaking out in the hallway where other people are or when getting questions about myself. “How are you today?“ can bring be to stress and anxiety so much more than if someone would have asked me to repeat the first 200 decimals of PI

I have no clue where I am on the shyness/anxiety scale because on one hand I can say hi to strangers and randomly strike up a chat with a classmate without feeling too bad about it, but on the other there are instances like the time I had to attend a class event and didn’t quite know where to go and felt like throwing up. Or that one time the bus driver looked at me kind of angrily and I was an emotional mess for the rest of the day. That surely can’t be “normal” behaviour, right? I’ve been so confused about this for so long.

Moving up the fear ladder worked until I discovered I also have a fear of heights.

I have my days.. there’s days where I feel comfortable/confident and I am even able to hold normal conversations with people, and I feel good about it, also don’t analyze it as much like I normally do. I’m able to go to the grocery store alone, or run errands alone without thinking that everyone’s staring at me. I love my good days. But on my “bad days” I feel awful, I can’t walk right, my heart races, I sweat more, I feel like my arms look weird and I don’t know what to do with them, I stutter when I talk to people and I just end up feeling so stupid. I feel like everyone is watching me, I feel like my voice is stupid so I stay quiet. My mind goes blank and I can’t get any words out.. and if I do, it sounds dumb. For example, when I’m somewhere in public where I have to socialize, I feel so stupid when I’m standing by myself while everyone is talking around me. I can feel myself starting to panic, and I want so bad to leave but I can’t, since I’m usually with my boyfriend when I go places, and around his family or friends. But I feel like they can see that I’m acting weird, or nervous.. And if someone does come up to talk to me, and I have a small conversation with them, I end up convincing myself that this person probably thinks I’m weird, and that I sounded so stupid trying talking to them, and that they’d rather be around someone else.. I just have constant negative thoughts of what others think about me. I wish I can be free from this. I’ve tried doing exposure therapy by going to social events, going to the grocery store alone, etc.. and sometimes it works, but then I’m back to my same ways days later. It’s a constant cycle, I’m good for a few days, and I think I’m cured, but then I’m back to feeling like shit again the next few days or week. Sometimes I even feel awkward around the people closest to me when I’m having one of my “bad days” I hate myself..

The thing is exposure therapy can help overcome your fears: for e.g if you have SAD you get yourself out there and talk to people. However, it can also reinforce to the brain how painful this situation is, and make your SAD even worse

it was so hard for me to accept im socially anxious instead of shy. but when i share my feelings w my friends, (hoping they would understand) they just laugh and say ohh ur just shy... 😔this all makes my anxiety worse...

Whenever I socialize in groups of people or even sometimes 1 on 1 I have to be drinking. It's gotten so bad that if I don't have a way to get alcohol I'm not going. I don't drink all the time but it helps me be more outgoing and outspoken, how I wish I could be all the time.

(Sorry for my bad english) For those who read this message... You're beautiful, strong and perfect. I know life can be hard (I'm also suffering from social anxiety for about two 2 years) but it will be better. And if you are having your school time right know just think that this time is just a little, little piece of your wonderful life. So do not give up! Always have that one thought in your mind that you will sometime be able to live a life without that phobia. I know that it will be a tough path but it's absolutely worth it and you can definetly make it. There are so many others that have the same problems as we. You are not alone! And at least we are not as mainstream as the others :) Think of that! I'm proud of you!

When she said "In this case it's to attend a meet and greet where you don't know anyone" my heartrate went up lol

I'm okay to talk with strangers when I go outside I smile or say hi to neighbours, taxi driver and cashiers, but I don't want(or I don't know how) to talk deeper than that, so every day I deal with that situation, again and again, I start to feel awkward. that's one of the reasons I afraid to go outside and more social anxiety.

Omg them damn "JELLY legs" be gettin me! 😭

I always think why God made me like this.😭

Thank you so much for this! To anyone who reads this keep pushing yourself! Things get easier with time, all you need is some practice like she said. Sending you love and wishing you the best! ❤❤❤

My anxiety is worse when I'm with family members

I had a panic attack when the teacher said that we need to turn on our camera with zooms..

I was bullied and picked on as a kid. Because of that I developed social anxiety and didn't really talk to or interact with other kids in school. I sat in the back and did everything I could to not be noticed. I hardly talked to anyone and only focussed on my studies. When I got into college I was very socially underdeveloped. I didn't notice at the time. My therapists said that was the only time in my life that I started to socialize.

31 years old and I still can’t get over this, I’m exhausted I’ve spent 90% of my time inside of my own head instead of enjoying a single day. Where do I even begin to undo this? Who do I even talk to, will I even show up? Or will the idea of speaking with someone allow me talk myself out of it. I can barely leave my apartment and go into the store for 2 mins. IM EXHAUSTED!

Sometimes I avoid watching videos that give advice on how to overcome social anxiety because I know the things I need to do will be too much for me. Also, there's hope for those who have social anxiety so extreme that they frequently have to deal with the physical symptoms that she talked about. All through my years as a teenager, I would avoid anyone or any situation that even made me slightly nervous. I'd start sweating, heart racing, can't speak...it was a nightmare. I'm not 100% sure how these things stopped happening to me so often. I think at some point I heavily convinced myself that I didn't care about people. I'm still nervous and all on the inside but the physical symptoms have decreased significantly. Also, I think I did exposure therapy on myself. I just forced myself to meet people when I would usually ghost them if they ever tried to meet me in person. It has helped tremendously. However, I still have the fear on the inside even though it doesn't show as much outside. Now I just come off like I don't care to other people lol...I guess it's better than letting them see how terrified I am. I can also give presentations now without sweating profusely or losing my voice. I still shake sometimes but I can hide it better.

Even when I go to the supermarket, I always becone anxious because I feel like everyone is looking at me. Because of it I can't even enjoy little things

I used to skip school because the thought of having to socialize was overwhelming. Back then I thought this was a normal thought process, now I realize I was isolating out of fear of being bullied and judged.

I must make an important point on social anxiety disorder. The hardest part to overcome is how skillful we become at avoiding social interaction. I am making this my focal point because of your examples of the ladder steps. When you say that it will be easier to say hello to a cashier who is familiar with you - that is a big old "nope!" If someone is familiar enough with me to greet me with recognition, I will avoid them like the plague. It would be easier to say hi to a stranger because there is far less chance of small talk. I don't want someone talking to me, causing me stress while I'm just trying to shop and complete my purchases. Saying hello will encourage that

This is me. I hate situations when I fear the unknown. I hate anxiety. I have fear of being embarrased as I suffer with a mobility problem and people can look at me funny ot shout at me.

I liked how you did this video and yet halfway through I could see you had a bit word trips. It made me feel better knowing someone as smart as you can work through a small glitch without making it a big problem

We love your channel and videos! Thanks for clearing up the often murky waters around mental health diagnosis, personality and emotion.

My eyes turns weird when I try to make eye contact while talking to people. It makes people feel physically uncomfortable too 😕

6:20 “say hello to a stranger at a grocery store..” If THAT’s what I have to do just to prepare for a small talk meet and greet then no thank you.

I can’t even talk to my Own mother 😔

Its cool to see so many ppl out here with the same thin as me. Social anxiety is a burden. I literary cant talk infront of ppl. I cant feel free and relaxed when going to a new class or work meeting. My body and brwin malfunction and i turn into a mute. As this is happening in rea time my anxiety gets worse as im hyper aware of my surroundins and situational awarness.

Queen, you are EXCELLENT at what you do! Please keep it up. The help you inpart to people around the world is immeasurable! Much love, peace and BIG respect to you. x

I wished you compared this with a third option: you avoid society because you think you hate everyone. When I was young, people said I was shy. Later, I thought I might have S.A.D. Now I think I just don't like people. I'm not sure what's healthier! Internally, I feel very uncomfortable around people, but somehow, my "personality" takes control and the words flow quite easily (while internally I'm wondering 'what kind of person says that?'). Most people think I'm fairly socially adept, even when I was young. Half of my job is talking to people, and that's the half I'm good at! But I've always felt non-human around other people, and since I'm not interested in anything they can do for me except in the most superficial ways, I avoid everyone. At least until I get lonely enough

I walked back and fourth , moving my hands naturally , speaking . After 1 minute , I was good . In fact , I felt confident .

This comment section makes me feel so seen, I’ve spent so long thinking there was something really wrong with me

I go over and over past events afterwards and the conversations and interactions I've had with people to the point where I get flustered and panicky. I wish I could find a way to stop the excessive over thinkin. it sucks. the therapies sound really helpful. I'm gonna look in to it.

Thank you for mentioning tapping as a coping mechanism/technique. I looked into it, and I think there's something about speaking aloud to yourself, acknowledging your negative feelings, acknowledging the presence of your body, and declaring self-love and self-acceptance in spite of all of your fear that could really help me get over myself and give people a chance to get to know me better.

Good points! I will try to give this a try. I know I'm socially anxious, but I'm not diagnosed as my mother won't take me to a professional and when I bring up my concerns to her she shrugs them off. I know I have many things wrong with me and I want help, but I'm scared to tell my family and I'm scared that once I get to the professionals office I will freeze. I want to tell them my concerns about me possibly having Bipolar Disorder as well as my social anxiety. I have looked up all of my nearest hospitals, professionals, and even some support groups. I have been gathering up all of my feelings and I am prepared to talk to my family, but I know they are going to dismiss me like they did almost two weeks ago. How they can believe nothing is wrong with me is beyond me! I cannot even order my own food when we go out and when I have to get my own food because I'm alone I have to talk myself into and most times I just decided to wait until the next meal. I dropped out of school after my first speech in speech class and now I'm having to lie to my family that I'm still in school because I know they would be very upset with me. The only time I actually talk to people, which is how I met my old friend from high school, is when I'm extremely high. I don't take drugs, but I get a natural high which I just came off of a couple days ago. The past three days I have slept anywhere from 10-14 hours a day. The only reason I'm even awake at all today is because my grandmother forced me to get up and go to school even though I dropped out and she doesn't even know it. I have only recently thought about getting professional help because these past two weeks have been a roller coaster ride of emotions. It got so bad that last Monday I actually tried to kill myself by cutting my wrists. I gave myself 22 cuts before I realized that it wasn't going to work and that I was a failure. I then grabbed my computer to talk to the suicide hotline since my attempted failed and I needed someone to talk to. The guy on the other end helped me a lot and we even made up a plan on how I can tell my family, but then I notice a 14 day eviction warning notice on my dining room table. I asked my younger brother if it had came today and he told me yes. I knew right then that I wasn't going to be able to tell my mother about how I was feeling and that I wanted help because she would be so angry at the notice that she would take her anger towards me. I spent the rest of that week in sweaters...in southern weather. My mother didn't even ask why I randomly started wearing sweaters in 90 degree weather when normally I'm hot in just shorts and a t-shirt. They don't care it would seem, but I desperately need and want help. I am tired of seeing things in my room sometimes. I am tired of feeling like I'm being followed. I am tired of crying and feeling worthless. I am tired of not being able to make friends. How do you go about asking your family for professional mental health help and where is the perfect place to begin my journey to feeling like my old self? Thank you to who ever listened.

This Dr. Has literally spoke on alot of videos on alot of my ailments. It seems as though I might actually have a chance now to make a change with these tools she's providing. Thank you.

Thanks for this video. I don't have social anxiety. I'm just shy. It's like I get a little anxious before meeting people but as soon as I do im great and talkative ☺️ glad you cleared up the difference between the two.

I love everything about this video except for talking to cashiers. I definitely have social anxiety. And I have to work hard to overcome it. But I also work in customer service and sometimes cashiers might be going through something that causes negative feelings in their job that has nothing to do with the customer. If a socially anxious person approaches the wrong cashier at the wrong time they may be met with an attitude that has nothing to do with them and may cause them to feel more anxious. If you approach a cashier as a socially anxious person, just be aware of what's going on around the cashier. Ask them how their day is going. Try not to be aggressive and maybe show some empathy. That way you may get a positive response. You'll both feel better. And you won't feel worse about yourself. Also if they are busy keep the conversation short. Don't take their reaction personally. They may be going through something themselves.

Starting taking propranolol at age 16 changed my life. I could speak in front of people, do job interviews and cope with stressful situations. I am now a medical doctor myself and I don’t think I could have done it without propranolol. I only wish I had earlier and more thorough support with my anxiety when I was a teenager.

I see several of my difficulties in this video. Thank you for explaining this Dr. Tracy.

I love this. You make so much sense. So much precision and great examples. I feel a little invigorated now.

Im getting anxious just from watching this video lol think i need help

Being in a abusivo relationship for years. Not being able to go any place it really lowered my self esteem and social life. I especially get afraid when when I speaking with men. I have to get over this

Thanks for such a clear and concise video. This is the best explanation ive heard on SAD since being diagnosed.

I’m happy there’s a name to what I feel. At 49 years old I’m ready to approach life with new tools. Sick and tired of avoiding things

I think I fall between being shy and social anxiety. It’s not so bad that I can’t leave the house but when there are alot of people in one place, I do get burned out and feel uncomfortable. Interviews, going on dates, going to parties, those all scare me and I always sell myself short. I see this post office worker 2 to 3 times a week and she tries small talk with me but I never know what to say so it always falls flat.