Having anxiety can be really complicated to handle, especially when other people don’t understand it entirely. Today, anxiety has become such a talked about the issue, that the Internet can misconstrue what everyone else with the disorder really goes through.
YouTuber Jessie Paege took to Twitter this week to explain that having social anxiety isn’t all fun and games like many posts and memes make it out to be. In fact, it’s much more.
social anxiety is not
“omggg I love netflix and I hate everyone”
it’s
– longing to go to social situations that are easy for other people
– wanting to use your voice, but feeling stifled
– feeling trapped in your thoughtsand so much more
— Jessie Paege (@jessiepaege) April 9, 2018
A lot of Jessie’s followers, and other people, we so grateful for her tweet and even added on, saying all of the things people actually go through when they have social anxiety.
Anxiety is staying up till four in the morning thinking about how situations could have differed, had you just changed one thing. Anxiety is falling down the rabbit hole of endless "what ifs" and scenarios for all the bad things that *could* happen.
— Morgan Elaine (@EmmySheetz) April 9, 2018
Anxiety is struggling to catch your breath while you try to assess every little thing "accordingly." Anxiety is nail-biting, hair-pulling, continuous chills & so much more while you try to figure out what the hell you're going to do. There's no band-aid to make it better.—-
— Morgan Elaine (@EmmySheetz) April 9, 2018
Phone calls give me anxiety and when I ask people to text me, please, they don't respect my request. If I have to call out to order food, or address important business, I have to plan ahead for what I'm going to say because I have anxiety about that as well.
— ?LiVanSinA?L.V.S. (@VampOfThRose) April 10, 2018
social anxiety is being talkative but having a little voice inside you screaming to shut up because they think you’re weird and are only staying out of pity
— Virginia Alexa ? 145 (@VirginiaAlexaB) April 10, 2018
The “OMG I’m so awkward” trend is incredibly boring, and incredibly ableist when it comes to the “omg lol relatable” posts I’m always seeing. No, Susan, cancelling plans and spending a day eating ice cream BECAUSE YOU WANT TO isn’t social anxiety. pic.twitter.com/JP1oBj0Grt
— — Millie ♡ (@yylaeHyttaM) April 9, 2018
I wish more people understood this. Social anxiety is not just hating being around people
— Pricefield Is Life (@Theresa38308323) April 9, 2018
Also – panicking and maybe even fainting when you have to do a presentation or public speaking
– being anxious literally every time you have to go out— oli✨ (@oli_is_awkward) April 9, 2018
And
-scared to talk to normal people like your friends or family
-constantly feeling like youre going to say the wrong thing
-and sometimes not answering the phone even tho you want to— wil (@tylerssweater) April 9, 2018
Needing a ride home, being offered a ride home by a class mate, but turning it down because you can't handle the small talk while in the car
— ???michelle??? (@mboyette0616201) April 9, 2018
My flavor of social anxiety is talking to anyone and everyone easily, and then waking up at 3 a.m. with a voice going over everything I said, imagining all the ways it could be taken negatively, and then telling me how stupid I sounded and how everyone hates me now.
— Michelle B (@Arthemise1) April 10, 2018
okay and TEARING UP from anxiety in social situations/ any situation that makes you the slightest uncomfortable. literally the worst & most annoying symptom of anxiety i have
— jay the gay ™ (@tiredcorn) April 10, 2018
social anxiety is trying to find something at a grocery store and calling your mom to help instead of asking an employee
— Noah Oxendale (@NoahMOxendale) April 11, 2018
And also replaying what you say to people in your head and thinking of ways you should've said it differently, thinking that everyone is always looking at you and talking about you,wanting to not feel inferior to other people.
— Kokobops (@CoraM89480858) April 10, 2018