social anxiety anyone?

[AndRu]

This sounds a lot like what I've suffered with since starting secondary school. I'm always really nervous around people and can get very panicky in supermarkets when there's lots of people around who keep walking into me or pushing me into shelves. I also try and avoid social situations, especially when I know I won't know many people there.

And I thought it was just me that felt like this

I find it totally illogical that I'm quite happy to be in a football crowd surrounded by 30,000 others yet I get nervous in a room of people, especially if I don't know them. I can stand in the middle of 500 people at a Slayer or Motorhead concert at the front moshing (look it up!) without feeling anything but enjoyment with a little pain. But in a supermarket, I've paniced if there have been a lot of people around. Why I can deal with a football crowd but not a supermarket is beyond me.

The thing that really gets me though is social/family gatherings or parties. Since I was a child I've never liked them; I'd rather be at work than have to face people (even family) in a social setting. I've never felt comfortable, even when I've know most of the people for years. I always do my best to find an excuse to not go. I didn't even go to my Dad's wedding when he re-married as I couldn't face all those people. I've always thought it was because I was an Anti-Social, Grumpy old beggar and I've never heard of the term "Social Anxiety" before.

As Queenie says ... It's nice in a way to know I'm not the only one here suffering with these kinds of problems.