Shyness or Social Anxiety Disorder?

It has become out of vogue to be shy or quiet. The person who prefers solitude over being with people or the person who prefers to work alone instead of part of a team is often viewed in a negative way. How did this happen?

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator looks at personality types on four different dimensions. One is the extroversion-introversion scale. Extroverts tend to relate to the outer world of people and activities while the introvert tends to prefer the inner world of ideas and thoughts. Therefore, the extrovert may be seen as more gregarious and outgoing while the introvert may be seen as more reserved and less sociable. These are two personality traits that are on a continuum and one is not “better” than the other. Social Anxiety Disorder is a disorder in which social interactions create so much anxiety that it interferes with one’s daily life and causes the person to avoid situations.

If you are experiencing that level of distress, it is appropriate for you to pursue treatment in order to reduce the anxiety and allow you to more fully enjoy your life. However, if you are shy and introverted in a world that values extroversion, then your task is to discover and value those personality characteristics and understand how to structure your work and personal relationships so that you are productive, happy, and energized.