9 Questions to Ask Someone With Social Anxiety Disorder

9 Questions to Ask Someone With Social Anxiety Disorder Entering a conversation with someone who is shy or who has a social anxiety disorder (SAD) requires a bit more effort on your part. People with SAD experience anxiety in both one-on-one and group situations and often need time to get comfortable before conversing. There are a number of steps that you can take to encourage someone with SAD to talk more and participate in the conversation. Tell stories and share things about yourself before asking too much of the person with SAD. Many people who are shy or socially anxious may enjoy listening to others more than talking about themselves, since they often fear being humiliated and judged.??When you do start to ask questions of the person who has SAD, be sure to ask open-ended conversation starters such as What did you think of the Oscars last night? Stay away from a series of questions requiring yes/no answers as the other person could start to feel as though it were an interrogation.When you ask questions, be sure to give the other person ample time to respond before jumping in with more comments. People who are shy or socially anxious may need more time to formulate their answers to questions since they often have a fear of speaking up.  ??Compliment the other person on some aspect of the conversation. For example, say I really liked your perspective on stay-at-home parents. Providing positive feedback and letting the other person know that you are engaged and interested in the conversation will go a long way toward encouraging further sharing.If you know the person with SAD has a keen interest in a particular area, ask questions about that topic. You may find that once the person begins to talk about something familiar and engaging, the conversation flows more freely.Be careful not to invade the personal space of the other person and avoid adopting an in-your-face type of conversation style. Match your body language and the way that you talk to the other person to make them feel more comfortable.??Do not ask overly personal questions of the person with SAD unless you know them well, since they may struggle with self-expression and have a fear of intimacy. Save those types of questions for more intimate conversations that take place after the getting-to-know-you stage.Dont interrupt the person with SAD when she is talking. It takes courage and effort for them to open up and interruptions will in terfere with their train of thought and could trigger feelings of anxiety.When leaving the conversation, indicate that you enjoyed speaking with the other person. If appropriate, extend an invitation to get together for an activity. Most shy or socially anxious people are more relaxed while engaged in a mutual task than when participating in small talk. Social Anxiety and Conversation Research Findings In 2016, a study published in the Journal of Behavioral Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry found that socially anxious participants contributed less during a conversation than non-anxious peers, which led to them being less well-liked.?? In another study published that same year in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, individuals with SAD were found more likely to avoid eye contact during conversation. The results indicated that avoidance of eye contact was a distinct trait of social anxiety.?? If youre talking to someone with SAD and not only do they fail to look you in the eye but they seem uninterested in what you are saying, what are you likely to conclude? A. That person is distracted and not paying attention to you. B. That person might even have something to hide. If the person you are speaking with has SAD, both answers may be partially true. However it is their social anxiety that is distracting them, and what they are trying to hide is likely their fear of being embarrassed or rejected, the fear that you will notice their hands shaking, or any number of fears related to this disorder. So try to remember to be patient and avoid any snap judgments. The person with SAD is  interested in what you are saying and often wants to know more.   Ways to Be a Friend to Someone With SAD