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This scenario partially explains the lack of understanding the general public has about social anxiety. People with social anxiety appear to be "normal" in every regard. No one can "see" the social anxiety raging inside.

The second problem is that people with social anxiety are afraid of making appointments with mental health care professionals.

Why? It is hard to call and talk to another person, in the first place. Then, if they are able to overcome this difficulty, the "professional" typically does not understand what the socially-anxious person is living with, and the depth of fear and anxiety the person is living with. Therapists usually prescribe a few relaxation techniques, some medication, and tell the person that they are really "OK," they appear normal, and nothing is wrong with them.

This scenario, which can happen time and time again, is highly debilitating for people with social anxiety. It reinforces the fact that they have a horrible, life-restricting disorder that causes extreme anxiety in most social situations, AND NO ONE CAN EVEN UNDERSTAND IT, let alone help them.

"I must be the only one in the world who has this horrible disease.

"I am a freak. I am just weird. No one else in the world is going through what I'm going through."

The feelings of helplessness and hopelessness that are experienced are intense; in fact, many professionals see this as "depression" and never get at what the person is depressed about (i.e., being socially anxious).