An SAer is someone who has social anxiety.
Social anxiety could be called the hidden disorder for several reasons:
- It’s not usually something you see immediately. Some SAers are good at hiding it. You could mistake it for aloofness, stupidity or something else.
- SAers aren’t good at talking, and it’s especially hard to describe SA to someone who hasn’t experienced it.
- SAers are afraid to talk about SA. There is a stigma involved in mentioning it.
- TV and radio programmes about mental health tend to focus on depression and schizophrenia. This is understandable. It’s harder to interview SAers. They’re generally not good at explaining – especially in a broadcast interview.
SA must be brought out of hiding. I’m absolutely certain of that.
Miriam Drori, Author 