The ghost in the background

If you take some time to think about it, people with social anxiety and ghosts are pretty alike. As long as you stay out of their space and show them respect, they’ll be one of your closest and most loyal friends. But get on their bad side and well, you’ve seen ghost movies. A lot of people think ghosts always have to be some kind of villain, but just like social anxiety, it can be a good thing. 

I’ve had my fair share of social anxiety, and a lot of people have said things like, “You should get over it,” or “It’s holding you back.” But what’s so bad about always being wary of a crowd? Social anxiety is the fear of being judged and watched by others while in a public space or crowd. While it may be true that we have a fear of being watched, a lot of us are also good at observing and watching. Trust me, someone with social anxiety, at a small gathering put them in a corner and give them 10 minutes, they will have a read on everybody at that party. 

This power is often overlooked by either the fact that they don’t want to go anywhere alone or all the downsides of social anxiety. It doesn’t always have to be a flaw, and if you try and judge somebody without experiencing it yourself, you’re going to try and judge somebody about something that you don’t have… yeah… next you’ll be telling me that being gay is a choice, since you seem to be the lord of wrong opinions. 

I’m going to be 100% honest, the only bad part of social anxiety is the constant fear of being watched. But aside from that, it could honestly be a superpower. I mean, think of it, a superpower to analyze the way everybody in a room acts simply by watching them, you’d make a top-notch spy. Heck, it’s even saved me before. This one time, while planning to go out I wanted to stay home because of my social anxiety.

At the end of the day, people with social anxiety are quiet, reserved, shy and bashful. However, they are also analytical, logical, observant and intelligent.