19 Words That Mean Something Different When You Have Social Anxiety

Plans = something you want to cancel.

1. Party

NBC

What it usually means: A social gathering.

What it means to a socially anxious person: A social gathering that you will do anything to get out of going to.

2. Phone Call

ABC Family

What it usually means: A call transmitted via a telephone.

What it means to a socially anxious person: Something you ignore until it goes to voicemail.

3. Ellipsis

Nathan Pyle / Apple

What it usually means: Omission from speech or writing of a word.

What it means to a socially anxious person: A literal manifestation of your biggest fears.

4. Pet

Via littleanimalgifs.tumblr.com

What it usually means: An animal companion.

What it means to a socially anxious person: The first friend you seek out at every party.

5. Text

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What it usually means: Text-based communication between two phones.

What it means to a socially anxious person: The way you wish you could communicate with everyone.

6. Plans

Comedy Central

What it usually means: An arrangement of what one is going to do.

What it means to a socially anxious person: Something you almost always want to cancel.

7. Shy

Summit Entertainment

What it usually means: Being reserved.

What it means to a socially anxious person: A word other people love to throw around when describing you.

8. Backspace

Via imgur.com

What it usually means: To move one space backwards.

What it means to a socially anxious person: The key most often used on your keyboard because you overthink everything you type.

9. Hint

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What it usually means: An indirect suggestion.

What it means to a socially anxious person: Something we drop when we want to hang out but are too afraid to ask.

10. Nightmare

ABC

What it usually means: A scary dream.

What it means to a socially anxious person: A room full of people waiting to talk to you.

11. Fear

CW

What it usually means: What you feel when you're in danger.

What it means to a socially anxious person: What you feel every time you talk to a stranger.

12. Home

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What it usually means: The place where one lives.

What it means to a socially anxious person: The place you have trouble leaving.

13. Hello

Via youtube.com

What it usually means: A greeting.

What it means to a socially anxious person: Something you have to build up courage to say to someone new.

14. Friends

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What it usually means: A person you have a bond with.

What it means to a socially anxious person: A person who never leaves your side at a party.

15. Guilt

E!

What it usually means: The feeling of having done something wrong.

What it means to a socially anxious person: Something that weighs down on you every time you cancel plans.

16. Betrayal

CW

What it usually means: When someone breaks your trust.

What it means to a socially anxious person: When someone wanders off and leaves you all alone in public.

17. Personal

Paramount Pictures

What it usually means: Concerning one's private life.

What it means to a socially anxious person: How you take almost every comment directed your way.

18. Thinking

ABC / Via hollylooyablog.blogspot.com

What it usually means: Something your brain does at normal intervals throughout the day.

What it means to a socially anxious person: Something your brain does entirely way too much of, especially before a stressful social event.

19. Trust

FOX / Via gifsb.in

What it usually means: A firm belief in something.

What it means to a socially anxious person: What you feel when you're able to explain your social anxiety to someone.

If you want to learn more about different types of anxiety, visit the National Institute of Mental Health here.

All this week we're talking about mental health. If you liked this story, you might also like reading these:

* 21 Things That Will Help You Understand Your Socially Anxious Friends So Much Better

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