I do understand that there are a lot of people who do self diagnose. I've a few people in my inner circle who have diagnosed themselves with anxiety. These are the same people who miraculously got better without even speaking with a Dr. I find it incredibly insulting that people use the term, as in I've felt anxious at my life situation, I have anxiety. Having anxiety in stressful situations is normal. Completely normal.
However, living your life petrified of every possibility that may happen is not normal.
I don't know where you get the belief that anxiety is just shyness and an excuse.
An excuse for what exactly?
Anxiety has railroaded my life completely. It hasn't given me an excuse to not do things I didn't want to do.
Because of anxiety I may have well pressed the stop button on my life for the past FOUR years.
I take it you are a parent, being on mumsnet. Imagine having your child have to sit at home, with you, every day during the holidays. Because leaving the house is actually petrifying to you. That same child, when it comes to Christmas, Halloween, fireworks, birthday parties. These are all things that have associated outings. Imagine your child either missing out on them outings. Or having to do them without you.
Let's also discuss the implications of having social anxiety. You often end up without any friends. Any time you need to communicate with people, you then replay the whole interaction in your mind, over and over and over. You run through what people said, and they meant. And what you meant, and how it all came out. And we're you the giant arsehole you feel like? And no wonder people must hate you, because you are such a useless fucker.
Then you manage to put positive steps into place, you start to feel like you are kicking anxiety in its arse, and something knocks you back. And you are left terrified, and embarrassed for failing not only yourself but also the few people who are still around and give a shit about you.