What does Social Anxiety feel like?
Tim is a college student who struggles with many aspects of attending school. He has a passion for his major and he enjoys researching the subject; however, when it comes to interacting socially, Tim feels horribly anxious. He often skips his class lectures out of a fear of being called on. Even though he knows the material, the thought of addressing that many people terrifies him. He has difficulty asking questions of and talking to his peers. He fears that they may find him boring or uninteresting. Class presentations are impossible for Tim, and more than once, he has made up excuses to avoid them. In the past, when he has attempted to make a presentation, he has experienced physical issues such as shortness of breath, dizziness, tunnel vision, shaking hands, and trembling lips. Tim has always been shy, yet he feels that his fears are taking over his life, and he worries that he won’t be able to accomplish his goals unless something changes. Tim suffers from Social Anxiety Disorder.
