Does Social Anxiety Make You Scared of People?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms of SADCausesDiagnosisTreatment for SAD

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms of SAD

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment for SAD

People withsocial anxiety disorder (SAD)are intensely afraid of social and performance situations for fear of being embarrassed, humiliated, or judged negatively.

If you are afraid of social situations, the fear can manifest with a range of symptoms, including:

In addition to being afraid of people, people with social anxiety are often afraid that others will notice their anxiety. This “fear of fear” or cycle of panic that develops can be hard to break free from on your own.

The Cycle of Panic in Social Anxiety Disorder

We don’t know the precise reasons why some people develop social anxiety while others do not. Research suggests that it is probably a combination of genetic factors and the person’s environment.

Scientists have uncovered specific gene variations that are potentially related to social anxiety. The hope is that understanding these variations could help them pinpoint the causes of the disorder.

Each person with social anxiety disorder will have their own fears meaning that the specific social situations feared will vary from one person with the disorder to the next.

In general, people with social anxiety disorder usually feel the worst in situations where they are the center of attention or feel as though they are being judged in some way.

Some people have very narrow worries, such as only being afraid ofpublic speaking. This type of social anxiety is usually less chronic and severe compared to people who fear most social and performance situations.

If you think you might have social anxiety, you can evaluate your fear of people and try to determine if it could be reflective of an underlying mental health disorder. The following questions can help you begin to evaluate your anxiety and help you decide if you might benefit from seeking treatment:

If you find that social or performance situations leave you feeling drained but they don’t cause you particular anxiety, it could be that you are simply wired to prefer having more time alone.

Because anxiety conditions are so common and impact women at twice the rate of men, experts now recommend that all women aged 13 and old are screened for anxiety as part of routine preventative healthcare services. If you find that social situations do cause you anxiety that interferes with different aspects of your life, talk to your doctor or mental health professional.

During your evaluation, your doctor will take a medical history, perform a physical exam, and may conduct lab tests to help rule out medical conditions that might be contributing to your symptoms.Your doctor may then make a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder if your symptoms meet theDSM-5-TR diagnostic criteriafor the condition.

If your symptoms are interfering with your daily functioning or causing stress, it’s important to work with a mental healthcare professional. They can help develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.

People with social anxiety disorder do not always need medication, but the disorder is most often treated withtherapy, medication, or both.

If you or a loved one are struggling with social anxiety disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first choice medication used to treat social anxiety disorder. When combined withtalk therapy, such ascognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) oracceptance and commitment therapy(ACT), treatment success rates have shown promise.

What This Means For YouIf your fear of people or being in social situations is overwhelming, it is important to seek help from your doctor or mental health professional. These professionals can give you a proper diagnosis and help you find the most effective treatment.Many people with SAD live a long time with the disorder before they seek help. You might not feel comfortable talking about how you feel, but it’s an important first step in getting the support you need.

What This Means For You

If your fear of people or being in social situations is overwhelming, it is important to seek help from your doctor or mental health professional. These professionals can give you a proper diagnosis and help you find the most effective treatment.Many people with SAD live a long time with the disorder before they seek help. You might not feel comfortable talking about how you feel, but it’s an important first step in getting the support you need.

Many people with SAD live a long time with the disorder before they seek help. You might not feel comfortable talking about how you feel, but it’s an important first step in getting the support you need.

Therapy for Anxiety Disorders

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Social Anxiety Disorder.Stein MB, Chen CY, Jain S, et al.Genetic risk variants for social anxiety.Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet.2017;174(2):120-131. doi:10.1002/ajmg.b.32520Cleveland Clinic.Anxiety Disorders: Diagnosis and Tests.Mayo-Wilson E, Dias S, Mavranezouli I, et al.Psychological and pharmacological interventions for social anxiety disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Lancet Psychiatry. 2014;1(5):368-376.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Social Anxiety Disorder.Stein MB, Chen CY, Jain S, et al.Genetic risk variants for social anxiety.Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet.2017;174(2):120-131. doi:10.1002/ajmg.b.32520Cleveland Clinic.Anxiety Disorders: Diagnosis and Tests.Mayo-Wilson E, Dias S, Mavranezouli I, et al.Psychological and pharmacological interventions for social anxiety disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Lancet Psychiatry. 2014;1(5):368-376.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Social Anxiety Disorder.Stein MB, Chen CY, Jain S, et al.Genetic risk variants for social anxiety.Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet.2017;174(2):120-131. doi:10.1002/ajmg.b.32520Cleveland Clinic.Anxiety Disorders: Diagnosis and Tests.Mayo-Wilson E, Dias S, Mavranezouli I, et al.Psychological and pharmacological interventions for social anxiety disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Lancet Psychiatry. 2014;1(5):368-376.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Social Anxiety Disorder.

Stein MB, Chen CY, Jain S, et al.Genetic risk variants for social anxiety.Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet.2017;174(2):120-131. doi:10.1002/ajmg.b.32520

Cleveland Clinic.Anxiety Disorders: Diagnosis and Tests.

Mayo-Wilson E, Dias S, Mavranezouli I, et al.Psychological and pharmacological interventions for social anxiety disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Lancet Psychiatry. 2014;1(5):368-376.

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Why Do I Have Social Anxiety With Certain People?#

What This Means For You#

Why Do I Have Social Anxiety With Certain People?

What This Means For You