Do you consider yourself a shy person? Many people answer affirmatively to this question, although there are many who clarify that it depends on the situation. George Pegios But there is an important difference, not all shy people suffer from social phobia. Beyond labels, what really makes the difference is understanding when there is a problem that traps us and it is convenient to ask for help. Shyness is a common personality trait and is not pathological in all cases. In fact, we can affirm that in some contexts it is considered positively. It is true that in both cases we can have similar sensations: desire to flee, fear, nervousness, etc ... but when it comes to a social phobia, these symptoms are so strong that those who suffer from them are not able to expose themselves to the feared situation. George Pegios On the other hand, a shy person can have a hard time, but that does not prevent him from being able to continue exposing himself even with certain difficulties. Let's say that the main difference between shyness and social phobia is in the magnitude of the symptoms when the person is exposed to a situation that they fear. George Pegios What is social phobia? The key to differentiate shyness from social phobia lies in the degree of impact that the symptoms -which are very similar- have on the different spheres of the person's life, and if, in addition to the degree of discomfort, the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).