Social Phobia and Anxiety: Is This Survey Accurate?

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A discussion revolves around a social anxiety test from a shared link, prompting participants to share their scores and experiences with social phobia. Scores vary widely, with some individuals reporting very high anxiety levels, while others indicate significant improvement over time through exposure and practice. Many participants express that social situations, such as ordering food or public speaking, trigger their anxiety, often linked to past traumatic experiences. The conversation highlights the challenges of self-image and the difference between online interactions and in-person communication. Overall, the thread reflects a common struggle with social anxiety and the varying degrees of coping mechanisms among individuals.

Degree of social anxiety

  • None. <55

    Votes: 16 42.1%

  • Moderate. 55-65

    Votes: 7 18.4%

  • Marked. 65-80

    Votes: 6 15.8%

  • Severe. 80-95

    Votes: 3 7.9%

  • Very Severe. >99

    Votes: 6 15.8%
  • Total voters
    38
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I came across this:

http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/disorder/liebowitz/

A simple test that tries to identify social phobia or social anxiety disorder. I am curious to know what fellow forumers are scoring on it and whether you think it is accurate. Is this pseudoscience?

I scored 99, placing me into the "very severe" category, which to me sounds about right. Other members of my family who are mildly to highly extroverted are scoring below 56, which also sounds reasonable if you allow for a small error margin.

Thoughts on this?

Edit: Whoops, sorry I meant to post this in the General forum. Please move accordingly.
 
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60(fear) + 56(avoidance) = 116
Although it isn't surprising to me as far as empirical evidence goes; I have had extremely high social anxiety ever since I was a kid. Exactly why I do is beyond my deduction and frankly I doubt I would even care to know why I have such extreme social anxiety. It is definitely quite obstructive though e.g. I can't order pizza via phone or call up customer service associated with various stores because I'm just too scared to talk to people. Heck I still avoid going to fast food restaurants on my own because I'm too scared to talk to the counter people and tell them what I want to eat :p
 
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Well, I scored an 81, which places me in the severe category. Sounds about right.
 
I never actively avoid any of those things, so I guess I get a 0. If I want or need to do something, I do it. I don't see any reason to avoid it. I don't quite understand the last one though. Do I "never avoid resisting..."? Not sure how to answer that.
 
WannabeNewton said:
60(fear) + 56(avoidance) = 116
Although it isn't surprising to me as far as empirical evidence goes; I have had extremely high social anxiety ever since I was a kid. Exactly why I do is beyond my deduction and frankly I doubt I would even care to know why I have such extreme social anxiety. It is definitely quite obstructive though e.g. I can't order pizza via phone or call up customer service associated with various stores because I'm just too scared to talk to people. Heck I still avoid going to fast food restaurants on my own because I'm too scared to talk to the counter people and tell them what I want to eat :p

Same, though it has tapered off a little for me with age. I've worked retail and dealt with people on a regular basis in the past and it helped slightly, but I would feel extremely tired after I got home even if the shift didn't involve much physical activity. As I got older I found ways of "tricking myself" into not feeling embarrassed all the way up until right before a stressful social event. However when I get there I still become a nervous wreck after a few seconds, my senior thesis talk (20-minutes) went down like this and the grading panel called it to my attention later.

I still feel extremely uncomfortable eating in public too, to the point I'd rather skip lunch sometimes if I can't find some amount of privacy.
 
Yeah I hear you and it really sucks. I think, in my case, much of it has to do with my self-image. I'm extremely skinny and rather tall and people have made notice of it throughout my life, everyone from relatives to friends to strangers, and it stings every time they bring it up. After a while I just got too embarrassed to interact much socially because of my self-image and the damage is done at this point so I just stuck with it.
 
You might be one of the very few blessed with fast metabolism, this is a good foundation to get on a healthy high calorie diet and a 5x5 strength training program!
 
65

it's got better as I age.
Those public speaking courses in my forties were life-changing, I was way severe fearful in my younger days .

We'll live up to our self image.
Self help programs that work on self image are in my opinion on the right track, sort of "Portrait of Dorian Gray" in reverse. As an old timer in my Carnegie class said: "Where the conscious goes the subconscious must follow".

old jim
 
I discovered that I have extreme anxiety while in the middle of giving a presentation in my 7th grade english class. I had a severe panic attack and actually had to leave the classroom so that I could breathe; Scarred ever since. Not to mention I have speech class next semester. Yay.
 
  • #10
Who could have imagined that, I come out as normal :biggrin:
Total score of 40.
 
  • #11
Monique said:
Who could have imagined that, I come out as normal :biggrin:
Total score of 40.

I can't look at your avatar. :rolleyes:
 
  • #12
Lavabug said:
You might be one of the very few blessed with fast metabolism, this is a good foundation to get on a healthy high calorie diet and a 5x5 strength training program!
I should also mention that I'm extremely lazy.
 
  • #13
I got a 39 but I have to tell you that it comes from practice. I would've scored much higher 5+ years ago but practice has caused me to lose my anxiety. Many of those situations I would be terrified of but after making a, rather sizable, effort to stop being a pansy I'm no longer scared of many of those situations and do not avoid them. Its kind of funny but I actually take many of those situations as a challenge and will seek them out on purpose just to make my life harder. Like the high pressure salesman or oral presentation. I'm not exactly comfortable with those situations but I do consciously try and challenge myself with them.

I should also say that I'm the kind of guy who once tried to talk an Army recruiter into letting me just do the basic training and then leave. I didn't want to spend years and years in the Army, but I've always wondered if I have the mental toughness it takes to make it through basic training in the armed forces. I've also always wanted to know if I could make it through some of the ascetic practices of Buddhism (like vow of silence or something like that).

Suffice it to say, I believe every person needs to step out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves with things that are extremely unnatural to them. My wife calls it masochism, I call it personal development.
 
  • #14
110 :(
It sucks... but do we have to live with it? Is there something we can do about it?
 
  • #15
Urinating in a public bathroom
Fear = None Avoidance = Never

Urinating in a public bathroom filled with bikers
fear = Severe Avoidance=Always

I got 15 which seems much too low.

The questions aren't phrased well enough to reflect what does actually causes anxiety
 
  • #16
I got 110. I'm not surprised; I've had many traumatic social experiences (primarily rejection) since childhood which I think have partially led to this problem.
 
  • #17
256bits said:
The questions aren't phrased well enough to reflect what does actually causes anxiety
I had the same reaction to them. None of the situations they mention was intimidating in principle, but all could be intimidating under certain circumstances.
 
  • #18
zoobyshoe said:
I had the same reaction to them. None of the situations they mention was intimidating in principle, but all could be intimidating under certain circumstances.

I think the questions are intended to be holistic. Are they uncomfortable for you in most everyday situations? That is the real question, not the specific hypothetical example of urinating in a public bathroom occupied by a biker gang.
 
  • #19
Scored high
 
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  • #20
29. I used to become nervous fairly easily a few years ago, but I suppose that I've matured out of it and have become more confident in myself.
 
  • #21
0(fear) + 23(avoidance) = 23


AnTiFreeze3 said:
29. I used to become nervous fairly easily a few years ago, but I suppose that I've matured out of it and have become more confident in myself.

It has more to do with personal traits/interests/insecurity rather than self confidence.
 
  • #22
WannabeNewton said:
60(fear) + 56(avoidance) = 116
Although it isn't surprising to me as far as empirical evidence goes; I have had extremely high social anxiety ever since I was a kid. Exactly why I do is beyond my deduction and frankly I doubt I would even care to know why I have such extreme social anxiety. It is definitely quite obstructive though e.g. I can't order pizza via phone or call up customer service associated with various stores because I'm just too scared to talk to people. Heck I still avoid going to fast food restaurants on my own because I'm too scared to talk to the counter people and tell them what I want to eat :p

Are counter people the people from the counter culture? I've never met anyone from the counter culture personally, nor have I found the black market --despite repeatedly looking for it and asking for directions-- nor the underground. So your problem is only with a small,possibly imaginary ( call it, e.g., ipeople) group.
 
  • #23
Bacle2 said:
Are counter people the people from the counter culture? I've never met anyone from the counter culture personally, nor have I found the black market --despite repeatedly looking for it and asking for directions-- nor the underground. So your problem is only with a small,possibly imaginary ( call it, e.g., ipeople) group.
Haha. The search for the underground market goes on my friend. It goes on.
 
  • #24
103 :/

20. Giving a prepared oral talk to a group
21. Trying to make someone's acquaintance for the purpose of a romantic/sexual relationship
23. Giving a party

*feints*
 
  • #25
I guess I'm a strange guy , but I don't panic when I have to talk to a crowd.Yet if you tell me to go to a party it's 100% sure that I'm going to decline.I used to party a lot but it was all an illusion , I was just pretending and more often than not I preferred to be left alone which makes you look weird when you're in a party.

The difference is probably that when I have to talk in front of many people I normally know what I'm going to say and why I'm there to say it.So in a sense the "thing-to-do" is crystal clear.But when you're in a party , you can't count on the one or two person you feel comfortable with to stay with you all night long , so there's plenty of time when you'll be between 3 or 4 small group of people that forms during a party with no idea where to go to or who to talk to or which group to enter.I always end up finding the most quiet spot and stay there alone or with very few people that comes to see if I'm feeling okay.

With the years I just stopped going to parties because I understand myself much better.I learned to choose my spots.I'm still a loner , but a little meeting with one friend 2 times a week does a lot of good to your enthousiasm and general well-being.Of course this social "event" has to be in a comfortable situation for you.For me , groups are a big no-no.Groups tend to be stupid and unpredictable.This sort of ambiance disgust me.It can also be hard to leave without attracting attention , which isn't fun since I suck at saying hellos and good-byes to a group of people.
 
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  • #26
WannabeNewton said:
Haha. The search for the underground market goes on my friend. It goes on.

But I was trying to get to the fact that you , others here, come off as being outgoing in this forum. I know there is a difference between contacting people online and in person, but still, just curious about the difference. Is it maybe because you already know you have something in common with the other posters (an interest in science, learning)? Would you have the same trouble talking in person with someone you knew from PF?
 
  • #27
Two totally separate things, I'm afraid. I racked up a post count of 10k at another forum years ago, still fumbled when I met some of the forumers in person even when we had common interests.
 
  • #28
Bacle2 said:
But I was trying to get to the fact that you , others here, come off as being outgoing in this forum. I know there is a difference between contacting people online and in person, but still, just curious about the difference. Is it maybe because you already know you have something in common with the other posters (an interest in science, learning)? Would you have the same trouble talking in person with someone you knew from PF?
But nobody really has to fully see me physically on the forum so I don't have to worry about being self-conscious, which is where most of my problems lie. I am extremely self-conscious.
 
  • #29
WannabeNewton said:
But nobody really has to fully see me physically on the forum so I don't have to worry about being self-conscious, which is where most of my problems lie. I am extremely self-conscious.



I know how much you enjoy music like this :-p
 
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  • #30
AnTiFreeze3 said:
I know how much you enjoy music like this :-p

Ban activated.
 
  • #31
What about becoming a TA and having to have office hours, teach tutorials, teach labs, etc.?
 
  • #32
George Jones said:
What about becoming a TA and having to have office hours, teach tutorials, teach labs, etc.?

Was this directed at me?

Since I applied to grad school this year, I had already run that experiment through my head. I can do office hours and 1 on 1 all day, I've tutored people informally before. Teaching tutorials would probably make me break a sweat, as talking in front of an unknown audience generally does.

So yeah I'd be a terrible TA in the classroom, thank goodness I didn't get accepted into grad school...
 
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  • #33
I scored a 54, although I was diagnosed with social anxiety by my psychiatrist. Even though I've been taking medicine for it I still feel anxious in social situations and I'm socially awkward and often avoid talking to strangers and such. My score should have much higher than a 54. I know I have social anxiety, I live with it everyday.
 
  • #34
kyraj said:
I scored a 54, although I was diagnosed with social anxiety by my psychiatrist. Even though I've been taking medicine for it I still feel anxious in social situations and I'm socially awkward and often avoid talking to strangers and such. My score should have much higher than a 54. I know I have social anxiety, I live with it everyday.

So does being on anxiety meds influence how you took the quiz? I mean, when I take a quiz like that, I put myself in the situation and take my best guess at how I would react. Therefore the results are highly dependent on my mood at the time - one of many reasons why they aren't accurate. If I used that strategy when taking meds I guess it would be a good measure of how well they are working.

Btw I took the quiz several days ago, I got a 34 I think - no fear, just avoidance.
 
  • #35
5 + 12 = 17. I don't think so. These kinds of quizzes corner you with limited choices, or the question does not really deal with things that really do cause anxiety. For me anyway.
 
  • #36
I scored a 54, although I was diagnosed with social anxiety by my psychiatrist. Even though I've been taking medicine for it I still feel anxious in social situations and I'm socially awkward and often avoid talking to strangers and such. My score should have much higher than a 54. I know I have social anxiety, I live with it everyday.
 
  • #37
jim mcnamara said:
5 + 12 = 17. I don't think so. These kinds of quizzes corner you with limited choices, or the question does not really deal with things that really do cause anxiety. For me anyway.

The question about writing threw me. What do they mean by writing? Just plain old writing whatever on a piece of paper? Just being in the same room with people and writing, or literally having someone watch what you write and how you write it?
 
  • #38
Yeah SSRI's (the more commonly used anti-dep's these days) are often prescribed to people with social phobia, so it certainly should have an effect on your answers, but probably not a lot...

I am and have been on SSRI's for 7 months now and I still scored 99, so I guess my "true" score with my "natural" brain chemical levels should be higher.
 
  • #39
scored 48
Though I agree I dn't suffer from social anxiety, I'll say itz pseudoscience
 
  • #40
WannabeNewton said:
Yeah I hear you and it really sucks. I think, in my case, much of it has to do with my self-image. I'm extremely skinny and rather tall and people have made notice of it throughout my life, everyone from relatives to friends to strangers, and it stings every time they bring it up. After a while I just got too embarrassed to interact much socially because of my self-image and the damage is done at this point so I just stuck with it.

as mentioned in this thread already, that "concern" dissipates with age if you just follow status quo.

I found my self-consciousness about image was related to my impression of image. Ensure you don't have a distorted view of physical appearance.

On a side note, I seen some "reality cop show" that has an officer who has such sever burns he is barely recognizable as human. even the one visible eye looks all black. He is an investigator so of course that requires exceptional social interactions / skills. Watching that guy do his thing without the slightest concern for HIMSELF (his physical appearance) was inspiring AND revealing.
EDIT: found a link to him, guess he is retired now, but was working as an investigator.
Jason Schechterle, the show was First 48 Hours

A good friend of mine was tall and skinny in HS. He was the butt end of jokes and as a result became self-conscious about his physical appearance. After HS, he started to workout & eat allot more food. The motivation to workout was from not wanting to have a certain appearance. The motivation to keep it up came from all the attention the girls give him, and how some guys are intimidated / give a little extra respect ...this is ten years later.

Your actions have far more physical impact than your emotions...not news to you I'm sure.
 
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  • #41
wow I only got a 34.

Looks like the worst thing for me would be to approach a girl I'm interested in at a party I'm hosting and the girl turns out to be a high pressure sales person, and then having a disagreement with her...that'd be just awful.
 
  • #42
6(fear) + 11(avoidance) = 17
 
  • #43
88. I thought I would be higher.
 
  • #44
I got a 69 score, although a lot of the questions can be answered anything depending on what they mean. I don't like talking on the phone in public, but apparently this is one of the worst things you can do in Japan. Is all of Japan socially anxious?

I do worst when there's groups of people and I have to somehow join one of them and not look awkward doing it. Or doing a cold-meeting with pretty much anybody. They have drugs for this? What do they do?

Alcohol pretty much removes any social anxiety I have, except the groups of people where I know nobody. Even when you manage to make your way into the group circle...wtf do you say that the whole group who've probably know each other since childhood, could possibly find interesting?
 
  • #45
Lsos said:
They have drugs for this? What do they do?

They make you more natural and acceptable. :smile: That should ease any anxiety.
 
  • #46
I got a 12 but I have PTSD, so I'm not sure if this survey is any good...
 

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