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Common conditions

Social Anxiety/Social Phobia

What is social anxiety/social phobia?

What is social anxiety/social phobia?

Social phobia or social anxiety is a common type of anxiety disorder characterized by persistent, intense fear about social or performance situations. Often, these worries begin during childhood or the early teenage years. If left untreated, social anxiety/social phobia can negatively affect your quality of life.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms

We all feel self-conscious or nervous in front of others sometimes. However, when you’re experiencing social phobia, everyday interactions can cause significant anxiety due to fear of being scrutinized, embarrassed, or judged negatively by others.

Typical symptoms of social anxiety appear as the following:

  • Worry about what others think of you
  • Fear of doing something embarrassing or humiliating yourself in front of others
  • Thoughts that you might offend someone
  • Avoidance of situations where you might be observed or evaluated, such as in school or at work
  • Physical symptoms may occur such as blushing, shaking, sweating, rapid heartbeat or other uncomfortable sensations including panic attacks
  • Feelings of self-doubt and uncertainty
  • Overwhelming urge to flee from and/or actively avoid situations that trigger distress, discomfort, or difficult emotions

Causes of social anxiety/social phobia

Causes
  • Family history- Some forms of social anxiety may be related to a genetic predisposition to this disorder. If a family member has the condition, you may be more prone to develop social anxiety.
  • New social demands/changes- Entering situations of uncertainty such as starting at a new school, public speaking, interviewing, or socializing with strangers may bring up feelings of intense fear and distress.
  • Negative experiences- Experiencing rejection, bullying, family conflict, abuse, or trauma can increase symptoms of social anxiety.

Diagnosing social anxiety disorder/social phobia

Diagnosis

The good news is: social anxiety is highly treatable. With patience, courage, and a willingness to ask for help, you can learn coping mechanisms to help ease the symptoms of social anxiety. If you think you have social anxiety, talking with a trusted adult, friend, or physician about your experience is a great place to start. A qualified mental health professional can provide a social anxiety or social phobia diagnosis. If you're struggling with social anxiety, your provider may:

  • Talk to you about your symptoms and what triggers them
  • Discuss the situations that you fear or avoid
  • Ask questions to see if you fit the criteria for social anxiety listed in the DSM-5, a guidebook of conditions that’s widely used by mental health professionals

Treatment

Treatment

Social anxiety is best treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or a medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

CBT is a specialized form of talk therapy that will help you:

  • Become aware of your fears and emotions
  • Identify inaccurate or negative, self-defeating thinking
  • Learn techniques to reshape these thoughts and respond to challenging situations in a more effective way
  • Decrease avoidance of social and evaluative situations while mastering your anxiety

The Center for Youth Mental Health at NewYork-Presbyterian

Get Care

The Center for Youth Mental Health is a rich resource, bringing together doctors from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Weill Cornell Medicine to lead research and treatment programs that give young people the care they need. Learn more.