Social Anxiety Disorder, sometimes also called Social Phobia, is a type of anxiety disorder that is specific to anxiety or fear within social settings. Social Anxiety Disorder is different from shyness or introversion in that the individual experiences significant distress when in the feared social setting or interaction or significant efforts to avoid it due to the distress.
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social anxiety disorder, also called Social Phobia is an anxiety disorder where an individual develops distress when having to interact in social settings – typically those outside of their everyday routine.
Social Anxiety is a significant fear or anxiety typically across different situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny or judgement by others.
Situations that commonly cause concern for those with social anxiety include:
- social interactions such as being able to hold a conversation
- meeting less well known people
- eating or drinking in front of others
- performing in front of others such as giving a speech
Diagnosing Social Anxiety
There are certain criteria that are considered when determining if an individual may have social anxiety.
Further Resources and Reading
Anxiety Canada – Social Anxiety Disorder
Centre for Clinical Interventions – Social Anxiety Information and Worksheets
How to be Yourself – Ellen Hendricksen
