This fear can inhibit a person’s ability to do or say what they want. It can also prevent the formation of healthy relationships. Shyness is often linked to low self-esteem. It may also be one of the causes of social anxiety.
Table of Contents
A shy person may have social anxiety disorder, and they may not. A person who meets the diagnostic criteria for social anxiety disorder may be shy, but they may not have this personality trait. Some people who come for treatment at the Social Anxiety Institute in Phoenix express feelings of shyness.
What is shy body language?
The body language of a person who is feeling shy is usually rather easy to decode. In most cases the person will be trying to avoid being noticed. You may see a child cover her eyes or hide under a coat or blanket. The gestures associated with being shy are easier to spot in young children than in adults.
Physical signs and symptoms can sometimes accompany social anxiety disorder and may include: Blushing. Upset stomach or nausea. Trouble catching your breath. Dizziness or lightheadedness. Feeling that your mind has gone blank.
What are the signs of shyness?
Severely shy people may have physical symptoms like blushing, sweating, a pounding heart or upset stomach; negative feelings about themselves; worries about how others view them; and a tendency to withdraw from social interactions. Most people feel shy at least occasionally.
It can be linked to a history of abuse, bullying, or teasing. Shy kids are also more likely to become socially anxious adults, as are children with overbearing or controlling parents. If you develop a health condition that draws attention to your appearance or voice, that could trigger social anxiety, too.
Here is the key to understanding this: people can have social anxiety about different things. Everyone is unique. For example, some people are very confident in job interviews and with regards to the performance at work, but are terrified at the thought of making small talk in the lunch room.