content="https://www.ampsych.com.au/assets/images/og-image.png">

Subtle Avoidance in Social Situations

32 things people sometimes do when anxious around others. Takes about 6 minutes.

Before You Begin

Some people do the following things when they feel anxious in social situations. Using the scale below, rate how often you would do these things when you are in a social situation.

In a social situation when you felt anxious, how often would you:

SAFE © Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University. Cuming, Rapee, Kemp, Abbott, Peters & Gaston (2009).

0
Never
1
Occasionally
2
Sometimes
3
Often
4
Always
Question 1 of 32
Before you arrive, excessively rehearse what you might say or how you might behave
Question 2 of 32
Remain silent
Question 3 of 32
Try to keep tight control of your behaviour
Question 4 of 32
Speak softly
Question 5 of 32
Say ‘I’m not usually like this’
Question 6 of 32
Blank out or switch off mentally
Question 7 of 32
Hold your arms still
Question 8 of 32
Spend time thinking of good excuses for escaping
Question 9 of 32
Wear cool clothes to prevent sweating
Question 10 of 32
Avoid eye contact
Question 11 of 32
Wear clothes or makeup to hide blushing
Question 12 of 32
Say ‘it’s hot’ to explain sweating or blushing
Question 13 of 32
Account for poor performance by saying that you didn’t have time to prepare
Question 14 of 32
Rehearse sentences in your mind
Question 15 of 32
Spend hours on grooming prior to the situation
Question 16 of 32
Wear clothes that will conceal sweating if it occurs
Question 17 of 32
Say that you are sick/unwell
Question 18 of 32
Look closely at other people and try to gauge their reactions to you
Question 19 of 32
Avoid asking questions
Question 20 of 32
Speak in short sentences
Question 21 of 32
Keep still to avoid drawing attention to yourself
Question 22 of 32
Hide your face
Question 23 of 32
Make excuses about your appearance
Question 24 of 32
Check the redness of your face in a mirror
Question 25 of 32
Try to think about other things
Question 26 of 32
Try to think of reasons why the other person is inferior to you
Question 27 of 32
Avoid pauses in speech
Question 28 of 32
Position yourself so as not to be noticed
Question 29 of 32
Hold your cup or glass tightly
Question 30 of 32
Ask others about your performance
Question 31 of 32
Imagine you are somewhere else
Question 32 of 32
Be reserved about what you say
--
--
--

About Your Score

Possible range0-128

Send Results to Angus

If Angus has asked you to complete this questionnaire, enter your details below to send him your results.

Your results have been sent successfully.

Important: This questionnaire is for information only and is not a clinical diagnosis. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose social anxiety disorder. Angus will go through your results with you.