Social anxiety is characterized by a heightened awareness in social situations, leading to emotional and physical symptoms. Social anxiety can be treated, but the first step is to recognize whether your anxiety may require further attention. This test will help you get an idea.
Directions:?
Take a piece of paper, answer the questions below and rate yourself using the following scale:
· If you answer "I do not agree at all", you get 1 point.
· If you answer "I neither agree nor disagree", you get 3 points.
· If you answer "Strongly agree", you get 5 points.
Let's go to the situations:
1. I avoid speaking in front of people.
2. I am always ready to answer a message or phone call.
3. I consider myself a shy person.
4. I like to meet and talk to new people.
5. The fact that I will be attending a party next weekend stresses me out all week.
6. I think meetings are the most tiring part of the day at work.
7. When I disagree with someone, I usually keep it to myself.
8. I find it difficult to enjoy a party without consuming some alcohol.
9. I don't find it easy to talk to someone I find attractive.
10. I believe that others want to hear what I have to say.
11. At social gatherings, I get flushed, sweaty, and have heart palpitations.
12. I always try to speak loud and clear.
13. I get nervous when I have to talk to a boss or a teacher.
14. I don't like being asked to join in an activity with others.
15. I'm totally ok with not having any social plans during the weekend.
16. I usually get embarrassed easily, even when I'm with people I know well.
17. I lied to avoid or get out of a social gathering.
18. I try to avoid places and restaurants where people can see me.
19. Before a social event, I spend a lot of time thinking about who I will talk to and what I will say.
20. Direct eye contact makes me feel uncomfortable.
Explanation of points:
After completing the test, the sum of your points will help you better understand if you are experiencing symptoms of social anxiety.
0-20 points: Low level of social anxiety?
You seem to be calm in most social situations. You may feel a little nervous at times, but this is normal and does not seem to be affecting your daily life.
21-40 points: Moderate social anxiety?
You may experience some symptoms of social anxiety in specific situations. If you feel anxious in certain settings or face situations where you need to communicate with others, it may be helpful to explore techniques to improve social skills and manage anxiety.
41-60 points: High social anxiety?
Appears to experience significant anxiety in social situations. You may feel intense emotional and physical distress that affects the way you interact with others. At this point, you might consider using some strategies to improve your anxiety management and improve your quality of life.
Regardless of the outcome, remember that social anxiety is something that can be improved with treatment and certain behavioral exercises.