Adventures in Social Anxiety

United States
September 10, 2019 5:49pm CST
I do have some social anxieties, but it's not something I've ever been diagnosed with. I guess you might call me more reserved with a preference to staying quiet. Today I had an attack of what I'd call social anxiety. We had a new waitress at our favorite dining establishment. Our normal waitress has a secondary job (her own business) and needed to tend to that. Our waitress today was lovely, and did very well.. Did I mention anxiety of all sorts runs in the family? Well, it does. My aunt has me place the to go order for my cousin for two reasons.One of which has to do with a bit of anxiety on her own part. Well, I had to place that order, remember my own order (our normal waitress I can just say "My usual" to) and make sure that everyone else's order was right as well. My hands were shaking and even my voice was stilted. I had no reason to be anxious, but found myself anxious anyhow. I know social anxieties can be a hard topic. Do you have any anxieties like this?
8 people like this
8 responses
• United States
11 Sep 19
Sometimes I could have anxiety, but in a different way. Like maybe it's explaining something or I'll have a hard time being in a crowd & center of attention. Just depends on the moment.
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Sep 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum I get the awkwardness of having to talk to people at times, too. Especially strangers.
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Sep 19
@infatuatedbby I felt a little awkward today but got through it. Everyone seemed to be chatty today. Went to two grocery stores and the dollar tree, and every cashier was talkative.
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Sep 19
I definitely hate being the center of attention. Yeah, I dont' really consider myself to have social anxiety. I don't really think it's right for me to claim that I have that when it's more so that I feel very awkward sometimes having to talk to people.
2 people like this
• Rupert, Idaho
10 Sep 19
I am sorry to hear that you felt that way even though you had no reason to be anxious. Almost every time I go out and have to talk someone (like order food) I get all shaky, and sometimes I get so nervous I can't think straight. Social anxiety, or anxiety in general can be awful!
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Sep 19
It used to be a lot worse for me, but over the years it's gotten easier. Or maybe it's just gotten easier to fake. I don't like claiming that I have social anxiety, because I think mine is less than what others have to face. Even so, I get anxious around new people. I don't like small talk either.
2 people like this
• Rupert, Idaho
11 Sep 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum Well that is good that it's gotten easier over the years....well hopefully not easier to fake...but I can understand. I try to fake that I don't have an issue with it, but it's not easy. I am sorry that you deal with it too. I am a lot better with people I am familiar with, but even then it's not always easy. Oh yeah, small talk....I don't like it either! For me it just becomes this awkward thing usually.
• United States
11 Sep 19
@MommyOfEli2013 Yes. The other day I was in a truck with my best friend's husband and father and a woman that I sort of know, but not overly well. She wanted to small talk with me but I didn't want that at all. She asked about my job and that just made me feel awful. I probably came off as standoffish, but she made me feel pretty awkward.
1 person likes this
@yanzalong (18987)
• Indonesia
11 Sep 19
Yes, I have that from time to time.
1 person likes this
@Lolaze (5093)
• St. Louis, Missouri
11 Sep 19
I can have some minor ones at times. My best friend has it severely. There are only a few places she will go by herself, mostly she goes out in public with me or her parents.
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Sep 19
Atleast she has you. I still let my bestie sort of take the lead when we are out. She's always said that she adopted me as she's so extroverted an I am just not.
1 person likes this
@rakski (112993)
• Philippines
11 Sep 19
We all have our own anxieties in our own different way. I hope you were able to order everything
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Sep 19
Yes, I got it all ordered and felt calmer once it was all done. I am the shyest and yet when I am with family it's like I take on the role of social butterfly. It can be disconcerting.
3 people like this
• United States
11 Sep 19
@rakski Thank You!
2 people like this
@rakski (112993)
• Philippines
11 Sep 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum all done and congrats to you for being able to do it
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
11 Sep 19
If I'm ever somewhere with my little brother, like a pub, we fight over which of us is going to the bar. Inevitably, I lose, purely because I'm the big sister! I have self-diagnosed anxiety which I've learnt to manage. I get incredibly annoyed when I'm told I'm too laid back and calm to suffer from anxiety ... yes, that comes with a lifetime of learned behaviour!! And because I don't wear my heart on my sleeve.
• United States
11 Sep 19
I was diagnosed with separation anxiety at one point, and they tried to diagnose me with bipolar but I don't have the same highs or lows that those that suffer with that. I should know, I have / had enough family members who suffered from it. I just have anxiety, and like you, it's more high functioning, but that doesn't mean it isn't still there.
1 person likes this
12 Sep 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum Precisely. It's there, but it isn't necessarily something which people might pick up on.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (133795)
• Roseburg, Oregon
11 Sep 19
I have no anxieties but I do not like enclosed places.
• United States
11 Sep 19
I get anxious when I have to go somewhere even if I'm familiar with the place and the people who will be there.I can understand your anxiety and hope things worked out okay for you. I'm not diagnosed with any anxiety but I do think at times I have unexplained anxiety