Social Anxiety Test: More Than Just Shyness

For most people, worrying about a future job interview is normal and has nothing to do with social anxiety. However, some people experience so much distress at the idea of meeting and interacting with others that they avoid social situations altogether.

Nobody should attempt to diagnose social anxiety on the Internet. The test below is certainly not a diagnostic tool and should be treated as an interactive checklist of social anxiety signs. Please talk to your mental health provider if you have any concerns.

I am constantly concerned about how I come across.

I am afraid that others will humiliate me or embarrass me.

I am not able to do things I really want to do because of my discomfort around other people.

People will probably think I am weird.

When I can’t avoid going to a meeting, I prepare extensively.

I sweat, shake, tremble, or blush, and I worry that others can see it.

Some everyday situations, such as initiating and maintaining conversations, shopping, making phone calls, or walking down the street, are highly distressing for me.

I am worried that I will say something stupid and people will laugh at me.

I think that others are talking behind my back.

Others will know how I feel because I blush very easily.

I will not know what to say.

I do all my shopping online because I find some parts of offline shopping intimidating (e.g., interacting with a cashier, asking a “stupid” question, being seen by other customers and possibly judged, etc.).

I avoid certain types of people (e.g., people in positions of authority, people I secretly like, people my age who are more successful than me, or other groups of people who possess specific traits).

If I happen to be around others, I avoid talking and/or eye contact.

I am only comfortable interacting with one or two specific people.

For the life of me, I can’t stop stumbling over words.

Sometimes I think about all the opportunities I have missed because of my avoidance of social contact, and that makes me very sad.

GET RESULTS

Even people who don’t have social anxiety may sometimes exhibit some of the above behaviors. The more signs you checked, especially if social situations cause you significant distress or interfere with things you want or need to do, the more useful it may be to discuss your concerns with a mental health professional.

Social anxiety can be associated with factors such as:

• being bullied or abused as a child,
• growing up in a family that didn’t socialize much,
• a family history of anxiety disorders,
• being very shy as a child,
• temperamental traits that may make some people more prone to anxiety.

As mentioned above, an Internet test can’t give you a diagnosis. If you feel uncomfortable in any way, consult a mental health professional for more insight into your specific situation.

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