I realize this thread is about social anxiety and perhaps not too many people here would be interested in hearing about generalized anxiety, but I thought it may be interesting comparing the two because I certainly was interested in learning more about social anxiety even tho I have general anxiety.

I can easily also feel social anxiety some times too. Having general anxiety isn't really all that different. Some times I know what's causing my anxiety, some times I have no idea what's causing it. Yes I can be in the safety of my home and for no reason at all get a anxiety attack to the extreme of feeling impending doom!

I can also get nervous about going to some social event, now the anxiety here is a bit different. I'm more afraid I will get an anxiety attack at the social event and it will be noticeable by others. It's not really so much the social even as it is for people with social anxiety, for me it's the possibility of a general anxiety attack.

If it happens and it's not a all out right panic attack, I can get thru it but it is very uncomfortable and painful and later when I go over the events I feel it all over again too. Most people would think I'm just acting a little odd, because i can hide it pretty well to a certain extent.

One of the problems with general anxiety imho is we get it so often for no reason, we try to avoid it at all costs, we tend not to worry about stuff we really should worry about! For example, my wife will ask me aren't you worried about the bills? She accuses me of not worrying about any thing! Little does she know how much I do worry every day about stuff I know about and for reasons I don't know about, I automatically try to filter out any anxiety I am able too. I have plenty of sleepless nites when I worry about the bills and every other thing and stuff I don't even know why I am worried.

Another difference is since it's not so much actual social events, general anxiety is probably easier to work with. It's still very exhausting. I would hate to try living with it with out meds. Most people just think I worry too much, except my wife