Approach anxiety (AA) is a term used to describe a man who feels highly nervous, awkward and distressed during (or even before) the act of approaching and getting to know women he has never met before. While the anxiety often derives from a greater
social phobia,
approach anxiety itself derives specifically from man's belief that he is very likely to be rejected by the woman of his desire in
unplesant and harsh ways.
In most cases, a man who tries to overcome this particular anxiety may experience symptoms such as rapid heart rate, clammy hands and excessive body sweating, thought paralysis (i.e 'going blank' or 'freezing up'), rapid speach, uncharacteristic stuttering, unintentional fidgeting and many other forms of physical or mental reactions to high stress.
