Background Info:

"Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is an intense fear of social situations. This fear arises when the individual believes that they may be judged, scrutinized or humiliated by others. The anxiety can be specific to one social situation or can be more general in nature. Feelings of fear, shame and embarrassment are common. It should not be confused with being shy or shyness.

Common anxiety provoking social situations include:

talking with people in authority
dating and developing close relationships
making a phone call or answering the phone
interviewing
attending and participating in class
speaking with strangers
meeting new people
eating, drinking, or writing in public
using public bathrooms
driving
shopping
Physical symptoms that may occur during, or in anticipation of, the situation include:

rapid heartbeat
sweating
muscle tension
upset stomach
trembling
shaky voice
dry mouth
blushing
queasiness
ticks
hyper ventilation
difficulty making eye contact

In extreme cases this intense uneasiness can progress into a full blown panic attack. The victim may experience shortness of breath, heart palpitations, numbness in hands and feet, or even a sense of being outside of ones own body.

The level of mental and physical discomfort is so strong that individuals often change their lifestyle to avoid being exposed to the situation. Changes that may result include dropping out of school, unemployment, alcohol or drug abuse, not leaving the house, suicidal thoughts, and avoiding relationships.

Social anxiety disorder may be associated with other psychiatric disorders, such as panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression."

So basically the reason I am posting this topic is because I have been dealing with this disorder for pretty much my whole life and I was curious to see if there were other people out there who are dealing/have dealt with Social Anxiety. I am also hoping that someone out there has some plausible or helpful advice for someone with this disorder.