Social anxiety is like a tiny gnome in the back of your head; it might be sleeping, it might be as active as never, or… it might be forcing you to go over the way you said “here” that one time during attendance. One thing is clear, though—people without one will never know what it feels like to have it affect every single social situation you’re in.

The r/socialanxiety subreddit is a safe space for those feeling distressed in a social environment. People here share memes that other members might find a been-there-done-that kind of situation.

Bored Panda has created a list of relatable social anxiety-induced moments. Whether it’s thinking of better arguments for that conversation earlier or finding the perfect eye-contact-to-floor ratio, some people might feel more at ease knowing they’re not alone.

#1 Thank You!!!

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Also known as social phobia, social anxiety disorder (SAD) is the persistent and excessive fear of being around people or in specific collective situations. It differs from person to person but there are some common traits. They might include worrying about meeting new people and starting conversations, tending to avoid social gatherings and eye contact, overthinking about judgment from others.

It might sound like everyone feels that way every once in a while. However, for those with social anxiety, these negative feelings are constant and way stronger. In some cases, they can lead to high levels of stress or even panic attacks.

#2 I Genuinely Love This Subreddit

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#3 Here’s Some Abuse

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SAD is part of the group of generalized anxiety disorders (GAD), which is actually the most prevalent mental illness in the United States. The National Alliance on Mental Illness states that around 18% of people in the US live with some sort of an anxiety disorder.

According to the Recovery Village, 264 million people worldwide suffer from it. Their data shows that younger people are more affected by it than the older generation. Just over 22% of people aged from 18 to 44 suffer from these conditions while for people 45–59 years of age, the number drops to 20.6%. Out of people over 60, only 9% deal with anxiety disorders.

#4 I’ve Never Related To Anything More

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#5 I Hate When This Happens

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Despite rather large numbers of people living with GAD, not a lot of them tend to look for professional help. The Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) states that less than 37% of people with generalized anxiety disorder receive treatment, even though it is believed to be very effective. ADAA also revealed that 36% of people suffering from social anxiety waited for 10 or more years before seeking help.

#6 People Like This Deserve A Special Place In Heaven

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#7 This Is Too Real

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#8 This Is How You Dismantle An Ego

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As with other anxiety disorders, SAD can develop due to numerous reasons. Some of the main factors include inherited traits, brain structure, and the person’s surroundings.

It is believed that certain mental illnesses or disorders can run in the family, making it one of the possible causes behind developing social anxiety as well. It might also be related to our environment, as family or close people usually have an impact on our surroundings from an early age. Therefore, if a member suffers from certain disorders, their behavior might end up reflecting in ours.

#9 Too Sensitive?

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#10 It's Like I Forget I Have Sa For A Second

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#11 My Life

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The founder of Washington Center for Cognitive Therapy, Vincent Greenwood, Ph.D., has expanded on social anxiety in a video online. He stated that there are three subtypes of social anxiety, based on its main triggers. The first—and the most common—one is general fear of social interactions. This might affect the day-to-day acts as simple as engaging in small talk, entering a room filled with strangers, participating in group activities.

#12 This

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#13 Never Were Truer Words Spoken

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#14 Always

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The second type of social anxiety according to Dr. Greenwood reveals itself when performing. Whether it’s sports activities, art performances, or giving presentations, some people might have difficulties dealing with the additional stress of being the center of attention.

#15 Here We Go Again

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#16 Aye, Contact Sucks

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#17 I Know This Feeling Too Well

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In his video, Dr. Greenwood names the phenomenon known as observational fears as the third type of social anxiety. It is based on the angst of being judged or feeling embarrassment. People affected by this type might feel anxious while doing things when others are watching, whether it’s signing a document or cooking dinner.

#18 This Is Terrific!!!

Image credits: Nileke

#19 Either Too Shy Or Annoying

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#20

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People with social anxiety share some common behavioral disturbances that can appear in both emotional and physical forms. The emotional ones comprise excessive worrying about others judging them, intense and persistent fear of communicating with people, anticipating certain social situations expecting the worst, among others. Some physical ones include but are not limited to heart palpitations, profuse sweating, blushing, trembling.

#21 Every Time

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#22 "Social Anxiety"

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#23 Lol

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Luckily, there are ways to cure or minimize the impact of SAD. First and foremost, if certain symptoms feel like it could be social anxiety, it is important to seek help from professionals. They can help diagnose it and appoint the appropriate treatment, whether it’s medication or alternative types of medical care. In addition to that, methods of occupational therapy or other practices, such as yoga or meditation, can be helpful as well.

#24 I Have Stitched No Truer Words ?

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#25 Aye

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#26 Show Me A Better Duo, I’ll Wait!

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Another solution that might help some people deal with social anxiety is connecting with people in a similar situation. The negative feelings caused by the disorder might make one feel lonesome, but there are people suffering from anxieties, getting in touch with whom might alleviate the load of it all.

#27 I’ll Be Attending My First Protest Saturday

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#28 Now Time To Hibernate

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#29 Haha Relatable, Now Cry ??

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Social anxiety is a serious topic, but people in certain online communities manage to find ways to present their lives with the disorder in a rather lighthearted way. Quite a few great examples can be found on this list. Whether it’s an outlet for the emotions caused by SAD or a way to connect with people going through a similar thing, some of these will definitely find a person or two who can relate.

#30 "Don't Dwell On Things" They Tell Me... Meanwhile

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#31 Getting A Call From A Unknown Caller

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#32 I Saw This Earlier And It Couldn't Be More True

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#33 Never Related To Something More

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#34 ... :/

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#35 Everytime

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#36 Always Embarrassing Myself

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#37 What's It Gonna Be Today Folks

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#38 Anybody Else?

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#39 Why Are You Like This

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#40 *checks Excuse Book*

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#41 A Little Hyperbole To Remind You You're Not Alone

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#42 So Accurate

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#43 Can Anyone Else Relate?

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#44 Thanks Brain, Very Cool

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#45 Teachers : *surprised Pikachu*

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#46 It’s A Vicious Cycle

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#47 Oh... I

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#48 Plus Thinking About How You Sounded Afterwards

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#49 Anyone Else?

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#50 ?

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#51 Tbh

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#52 Me Attending Online Classes

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#53 My Life In One Picture

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#54 Am So Lonely!

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#55 Nice

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#56 True

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#57 I Felt This In My Soul

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#58 Anyone Else?

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#59 Ah

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#60 Social Anxiety - The Beginning

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#61 College Parties

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#62 Like Pls Talk To Me, But Please Don’t Talk To Me

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#63 We Can’t Be Like This

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#64 I Should've Stayed Home

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#65 Saw This On R/Memes And Felt It Belonged Here

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#66 Found This Gem On Instagram

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#67 You Are Not Supposed To Call!

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#68 Social_skills.exe Has Stopped Working

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#69 Make That 6 Weeks

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#70 Accurate

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#71 Sadly True

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#72 I’ve Been There

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#73 Heck

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#74 Ah Yes Self Sabotage

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#75 The Wonderful Feeling Of An Empty Parking Lot To Eat Your Lunch In Peace. No Coworkers, No Small Talk

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#76 That Be Me

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#77 Fair

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#78 I'm Mostly Txt, But

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#79 I Don’t Know If This Has Been Posted Here Before But I Laughed

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#80 Too Relatable

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#81 Can We Text Instead

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#82 It’s Me Every Freakin Day Lmao ?

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#83 Yes

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#84 Me Irl Whenever I See Anyone

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#85 That's Why I Hate My Photos

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#86 Why I’m About To Drop Out Of School

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#87 So True

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#88 True

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#89 That Shit Hurted ?

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#90 Hope It Works

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#91 This One Hit Me Hard

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#92 Haha Help Haha. Please

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#93 Thanks

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#94 Me

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#95 Should’ve Just Stayed Home

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#96 Yeah

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#97 :/

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#98 Every Night

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#99 And Then They Never Text Back

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#100 I Like When Ppl Cant See My Face

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#101 Oof

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#102 Every Time

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#103 Every Time

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#104 I Didn't Make The Rules

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#105 Yes

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#106 All The Time

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#107 Me Always

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#108 :-(

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#109 Me Coming Home After Socializing, Thinking About How Awkward And Cringy I Was

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#110 Can’t I Just Take A Magic Healing Pill

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#111 Relatable

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#112 I’ve Never Related To Anything More

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#113 Anyone Can Relate?

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#114 I Relate To This On A Spiritual Level

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#115 I Live In A Dorm There's Literally 20 Rooms In A Single Straight Hallway

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#116 Me Today

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#117 I Feel That

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#118 Hmmmmmmmmm

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#119 ???

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#120 I’d Rather Stay Home

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#121 Something

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#122 Yes

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#123 Literally

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#124 This Hits Real Close To Home

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#125 Truth

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#126 Yup

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#127 Meetings, Am I Right?

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#128 Every Darn Time

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#129 Why Am I Like This

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#130 It This True For Anyone?

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#131 When Your Mere Existence Is Embarrassing

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#132 I Wouldn’t Want To Bother Anyone

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#133 Thats Me

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