I have always been the shy kid. But it was under control until early this year, where I started to become anxious whenever it comes to socializing, especially with someone I'm not close to. I started to twitch, sweat and shake in almost every social situation. It really annoyed me. I was confused with myself for months. I was very depressed and stupid so I abused cough syrup, pills and huff markers. During that moment I started to search through the internet about my problem and was convinced that I had social anxiety. However things remain the same even I already knew my problem. Social situations were nothing but problems for me. I rejected invitations to go out with friends, party and such.

A few weeks ago in an exam I had my frist panic attack. It was so bad I thaught I was gonna at least faint. I felt like running out of the classroom but eventually I managed to overcome the anxiety. I was anxious during the examination weeks and that caused many stupid mistakes like accidentally skipping like ten questions.

The last time I went out was more than a week ago and it was to the mosque. I was anxious throughout the whole period in the mosque. People there asked me where have I been and that freaked me out. Now I've been inside the house all the time for nearly two weeks. I'm sick of this. Help me.

That must be horrible.

Dont want to sound rude but have you got any type of disorder?
Some of that matches me, difficulty in social situations. (not shy though)
But i could possibly have something because of the way my head works.
Maybe you have the same?

Since I was a little child, I've always had poor social skills. I've never been diagnosed with any type of disorder though.

are you sure its shyness and not a lack of self-confidence?

I think shyness and lack of self-confidence are quiet the same. But I had no anxiety problems until early this year.

You sound like me back in the day
I just learned to open up
Dont know how I did it but I did it
so I cant really give advice
just try to open

You may well be just shy in general. But when you said about problems in social situations it gave me the impression, like me, you may have some disorder. I have not been diagnosed, we kept this hidden for years because people thought it might have been just learning problems or my nature. However now, i realized it was actually a problem. Shy people just tend to sit there or sit out of social situations, but you said you get anxious etc? I know what it is like to b shy and feeling uncomfortable around big groups etc because i used to be the same. But i never expereinced the twitching etc. The only reason i mentioned a disorder was because of those things you mentioned, sorry i wasn't saying the whole thing seemed like a disorder. Some people have types of disorders where they literally cannot stand being around other people and it makes them panic, feel ill, anxious, uncomfortable etc.

there is a difference in being a reserved person, and being someone who doesn't like to socialise sull stop.

a tip my counsellor gave me; act.
act confident. once you do something often enough, it becomes a part of you.
PUSH YOUSRELF. do something you don't want to. prove to yourself you CAN overcome it.

But some people love being outdoors but cannot motivate themselves.
For example, me, i used to be terrible for staying in the house because i was phobic of going out. Its not that i was reserved or anything, i just couldnt motivate myself because of the phobia i had.

Thanks for the advices people. You had social anxiety Kat?

I just took the test. Link given by Alex. Results:

Paranoid: Very High
Schizoid: Moderate
Schizotypal: Very High
Antisocial: High
Borderline: Very High
Histrionic: Very High
Narcissistic: High
Avoidant: Very High
Dependent: Moderate
Obsessive-Compulsive: High

Maybe I do have some disorders...

Btw I'm going to the national service programme in a few days. I hope everything will be ok there. If it's not I'll kill everyone in the camp with the M16 I'll get.

Sounds like you have some personality disorders, you really should see someone about them.

I don't think you should involve any psychological disorders into this. Anxiety of socializing can be a consequence of persistent fear caused by inefficient attempts of socialization. Also, the fear of any disorder, whether psychical or physical, can produce symptoms of certain illness. Illness doesn't necessarily exist because symptoms are a false product of nervous system.

Sole fear can be a causation of the problem. Hence, you should visit a psychologist in order to remove all doubts.

This is not bizzare especially if you're an adolescent. During those years intensity of many emotions is amplified.

For example, schizotypal; social isolation can be a consequence of different perceiving and apprehension and does not need to point to Schizotypal Personality Disorder.
Narcissistic; as long as this feature does not exceeds the limits of normality and self-worshipping, it can't be considered abnormal. I subscribe it to subconscious egoism.
Obsessive-Compulsive; Again, I think there's an involvement of egoistical traits and fear of failing.

These features are not highly vague. Their intensity is probably stimulated by inordinate fear.

I want to hug you're mind.

I am not sure.
But a person thats reserved doesnt usually have problems in social situations like that.
Disorders are a big cause of a person having what you have.
I've had mild cases of problems in social situations but im thought to have aspergers syndrome.