Sufferers often avoid direct gaze, leading to misinterpretation as disinterest or rudeness. This stems from fear of judgment or evaluation.
Recognizing this as a symptom rather than intentional behavior improves empathy from others.
It shows how social anxiety affects fundamental communication skills.
Did you know social anxiety can make it nearly impossible to maintain eye contact during conversations.
[National Institute of Mental Health, nimh.nih.gov]