Really bizarre: is my social anxiety *contagious*??

[epiphone15]

So I've written a few times about my social anxiety. Along with the general stuff, I've also focused on my sweating problem. Basically, in some situations I'll start worrying about sweating on my forehead, which causes me to sweat; it's an endless cycle of embarrassment.

Here's a weird thing that I've noticed recently. I think that, sometimes, when I feel/act anxious (basically I get quiet and distant and sweaty) I make other people sweat. Like, over the summer (when I went back home from grad school) I started hanging out with one of my old friends and noticed that he would be sweating even if we were just sitting around my house. Or, when I had a one-on-one meeting with my professor (who's usually very comfortable in his own skin ) at a cafe and I noticed him sweating. This week, when me and a bunch of students went to see a presentation, this guy next to me started talking to me, and I noticed that he started sweating, and at one point had to take off his sweater cause he felt hot.

I don't know what to make of this. Do I act very intimidating when I'm quiet/nervous/anxious? In my wildest theory, I feel as if I'm generating some sort of heat-field that makes people sweat haha. Anyway, I don't know what to say.

[greenoranges]

I think thats an interesting idea. I dont think they are on the same anxious level as you. But your discomfort could lead to other peoples discomfort. Especially if they are empathising with you :/

[bruxby]

Yes I have noticed this as well in my own experiences. It makes getting over anxiety that much tougher. Because on one hand I feel anxious around people and then people can sense my nervousness and then they will get nervous around me I guess because I wonder if they think something may be wrong with me and that makes them more hesitant. Although this can all just be in my head. It even surprises me when I tell people that I am shy and they seem surprised because I don't show it that well. So I guess it depends on the person as with most things.

Here a link about that subject that may be relevant to the 'smell of fear'.
http://discovermagazine.com/2010/jan-feb/075#.UMtxDW_Ad8E

[Gigi123]

I don't think it's contagious,hehe BUT, I do think that we are WAY more same sensitive to seeing the signs in other people because we suffer from this and think about it so much. I tend to blush a lot and I definitely notice it other people. I don't think they're blushing because I am, other people simply blush too.

[Bettie]

Got to agree with the above post....when we are aware of our own problems we tend to get hypersensitive about it and notice it with other people. They are probably not sweating any more than normal and I expect are not even aware of it.