Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder (formerly known as social phobia) is a mental health condition where you experience intense and ongoing fear of being judged negatively and/or watched by others.

Social anxiety disorder is a common anxiety disorder.

If you have social anxiety disorder, you have anxiety or fear in specific or all social situations, including:

• Meeting new people.
• Performing in front of people.
• Taking or making phone calls.
• Using public restrooms.
• Asking for help in a restaurant, store or other public place.
• Dating.
• Answering a question in front of people.
• Eating in front of people.
• Participating in an interview.

A core feature of social anxiety disorder is that you’re afraid of being judged, rejected and/or humiliated.

Who does social anxiety affect?

Social anxiety disorder is a common mental health condition that can affect anyone. Most people who have social anxiety disorder experience symptoms before they’re 20 years old. People assigned female at birth (AFAB) experience higher rates of social anxiety than people assigned male at birth (AMAB).

How common is social anxiety disorder?

Social anxiety disorder isn’t uncommon. Approximately 5% to 10% of people across the world have social anxiety disorder. It’s the third most common mental health condition behind substance use disorder and depression.

Are there different types of social anxiety?

A person with social anxiety disorder can have a mild, moderate or extreme form of it. Some people with social anxiety only experience symptoms with one type of situation, like eating in front of others or performing in front of others, while other people with social anxiety experience symptoms in several or all forms of social interaction. In general, the different levels of social anxiety include:

• Mild social anxiety: A person with mild social anxiety may experience the physical and psychological symptoms of social anxiety but still participate in, or endure, social situations. They may also only experience symptoms in certain social situations.
• Moderate social anxiety: A person with mild social anxiety may experience physical and psychological symptoms of social anxiety but still participate in some social situations while avoiding other types of social situations.
• Extreme social anxiety: A person with extreme social anxiety may experience more intense symptoms of social anxiety, such as a panic attack, in social situations. Because of this, people with extreme social anxiety usually avoid social situations at all costs. A person with extreme social anxiety likely has symptoms in all or many types of social situations.

It’s very common to have anticipatory anxiety when facing these situations. It’s possible to fluctuate between different levels of social anxiety throughout your life. No matter which type of social anxiety you have, it’s important to seek treatment because this type of anxiety affects your quality of life.

What is the difference between having social anxiety disorder and being shy?

Anyone can experience shyness from time to time. Having social anxiety disorder consistently interferes with or prevents you from doing everyday activities such as going to the grocery store or talking to other people. Because of this, social anxiety disorder can negatively affect your education, career and personal relationships. Being shy from time to time doesn’t affect these things.

In general, the three main factors that distinguish social anxiety from shyness are:

• How much it interferes with your day-to-day life.
• How intense your fear and anxiety are.
• How much you avoid certain situations.

Many people with social anxiety disorder don’t try to get help or seek treatment because they think social anxiety is just part of their personality. It’s important to reach out to your healthcare professional if you’re experiencing ongoing and intense symptoms when in social situations.