A person has a tendency to be shy during social gatherings especially if most of the people in these
events are unknown to that person.
Some people feel uncomfortable when in a group of people that they do not personally know because they are
uncertain on how they would interact with the guests or what specific actions they should do.
It is normal to be shy during these kinds of situations but there is a point that a person should become at ease
and used to these kinds of social gatherings.
Another common situation that a person can become shy is when in front of a lot of people. Most people tend to
be shy when the entire group’s attention is focused on them. Certain situations like speaking in front of a crowd
or presenting to a lot of people can induce shyness.
Among teens and young adults, one situation that usually brings out their shyness is during dates with the
opposite sex. Dates are usually spontaneous and vague; you may never know what will happen next so you tend to be
shy. You try to impress your date but at the same time you feel shy and nervous. The feeling of shyness is most
common during first dates.
Being introduced to a person for the first time can also bring out the shy person in you. Because people do not
know anything about the person they are being introduced to or because they are unfamiliar with them, they tend to
be shy.
Being complimented with the way you look, speak, act, or being complimented for your work can also bring about
shyness. Some people become self-conscious and shy when they are given compliments.
Most shy people tend to avoid being caught in these situations because they do not want to feel
uncomfortable.
Shyness is not necessarily bad because it is a normal feeling but there are actually negative things that can be
caused by shyness. If a person is shy then he or she can miss out on a lot of opportunities that may have
contributed to that person’s success.
For instance in a certain situation, a man knows he has excellent skills in drawing and painting, but because he
is too shy to showcase his talent, he misses out on a lot of opportunities that could have made him a famous
painter.
Another negative effect that shyness has on some people is that it affects their social life. They have a hard
time interacting with strangers and new people that they meet so making friends is also difficult. Shy people feel
terrible because one of the basic human needs is the need for social interaction and longing for human affection
and they have a hard time satisfying these needs because of shyness.
Shyness has different levels and it can vary from being mild to moderate to extreme shyness. Social anxiety or
social phobia is different from shyness because the former are considered more severe cases of shyness and people
who experience these usually seek the help of medical professionals.
Persons who have social anxiety or social phobia have a hard time interacting with other people thus hampering
their daily tasks. It really is a serious issue that needs to be handled by professionals.