A P Psychology

Social Phobia or social anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder where the sufferer experiences a persistent fear of social situations or performance situations in which embarrassment may occur.

Although most people who experience social anxiety are aware that their fear is excessive or unreasonable they usually find it very difficult to manage this anxiety and as a result social or performance situations are usually avoided or endured with dread.

Although it is normal to feel some anxiety in unfamiliar situations (for example it is very common for people to fear public speaking), for people with social anxiety, this fear of embarrassment and anxiety often prevents them from doing normal activities and may disrupt their daily life.  For example, for a person with Social Phobia, their anxiety and anxious anticipation of social situations may make it difficult for them to make new friends or start aromantic relationship, apply for a new job, speak up during a staff meeting or their anxiety may interfere with their functioning in performance situations, such as exams as they are afraid that others will judge them to be anxious, weak, crazy or stupid.