Fear of Being the Center of Attention

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While some people love being the center of attention, others feel anxious or even fearful when all eyes are on them. If the thought of being in the spotlight makes you nervous, don’t worry; you’re not alone. Fear of attention is common for quite a few people, particularly for those withsocial anxiety disorder (SAD).

The answer might seem simple: avoid the limelight, right? Unfortunately, the truth is that hiding from attention can make your anxiety worse. By using avoidance to cope, you’re teaching yourself that you can’t handle being in the spotlight.

There’s good news, though. By using strategies and treatments to manage your anxiety, you can get over your fear of being the center of attention. If your fear is related to social anxiety disorder, getting treatment for your condition is an important step toward overcoming this fear.

At a GlanceSome people naturally shy away from the spotlight, but if it’s a serious fear that keeps you from functioning normally in your daily life, it’s important to address the issue before it worsens. It’s a fairly common fear, but having social anxiety, certain specific phobias, or past negative experiences can make it worse. Fearing attention can put limits on your ability to live your life the way you want, making it harder to succeed at work and school. You may miss opportunities or become socially isolated as a result. Fortunately, this anxiety is highly treatable with exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, and relaxation strategies.

At a Glance

Some people naturally shy away from the spotlight, but if it’s a serious fear that keeps you from functioning normally in your daily life, it’s important to address the issue before it worsens. It’s a fairly common fear, but having social anxiety, certain specific phobias, or past negative experiences can make it worse. Fearing attention can put limits on your ability to live your life the way you want, making it harder to succeed at work and school. You may miss opportunities or become socially isolated as a result. Fortunately, this anxiety is highly treatable with exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, and relaxation strategies.

What Causes Fear of Attention?

Not everyone enjoys being the center of attention, but there’s a big difference between not seeking it and actively fearing or avoiding it. A few different factors can contribute to the fear of being the center of attention. It is often related to social anxiety disorder, but other people can also experience this fear.

Social Anxiety Disorder

People who have this condition often experience an exaggerated sense of feeling under the spotlight.In other words, they sometimes feel like they are the center of attention, even when they are not. This sense of being constantly scrutinized and found wanting causes people to become self-conscious and often very self-critical.

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.

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.

Scopophobia

Scopophobiais an extreme and excessive fear of being stared at or looked at.People may experience feelings of discomfort when others look at them to a certain degree, but this phobia is much more intense.

Negative Experiences

Negative experiences can also shape the development of this fear. Bullying and criticism can cause people to become fearful of being noticed and verbally attacked. Being embarrassed in public or during a performance might also contribute to the fear of attention.

People may try to avoid any situation that might make them the center of attention to prevent future discomfort and distress.

Fearing Attention Can Have Life-Limiting Effects

If you have a fear of being the center of attention, it can have a serious impact on your life. It can make it difficult to succeed in situations that might require you to stand out and it often results in avoidance of any type of social attention.

What to Know About Attention-Seeking Behavior

Treating Anxiety Can Help

Treatment for the fear of being the center of attention usually focuses on addressing some of the underlying thoughts that contribute to feelings of anxiety. In many cases, gradual exposure to attention can also be helpful.

Exposure Therapy

Gradually introducing yourself into situations in which others are focused on you will help you overcome your fears. This process is known asexposure therapyand is usually one part of acognitive-behavioral treatment program.

You can also practice exposure as part of a self-help regimen. The idea is to create a list of feared situations ranging from the least anxiety-provoking to the most anxiety-provoking. Slowly, you progress through the list, staying in each situation long enough to lessen your anxiety and overcome your fears.

It is important not to use partial avoidance strategies orsafety behaviorswhen practicing exposures. An example would be telling someone your opinion but doing it in a quiet voice that you can’t be heard. If you are going to engage in these situations, you need to fully experience the anxiety that arises and then subsides.

In addition to practicing in real life, you can also “try out” situations in your imagination. This is a good way to get started and can have an impact on how you handle them in reality.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This type of therapy can help you change how you think about situations that make you anxious. You’ll learn to identify and challenge the negative thoughts that contribute to your fear. It can also help you develop healthy coping skills.

CBThelps people identify and change the irrational beliefs that are often the root of anxiety.This includes negative thoughts about your abilities and feelings of embarrassment about social situations. It can also help you change mistaken beliefs that others are judging you.

Studies have found that CBT can be a highly effective treatment for social anxiety.This approach to treatment can also be delivered over the internet viaonline therapy. This can be a helpful option for people with social anxiety since they may fear speaking to a therapist face-to-face.

Medication

Medications may also be prescribed to help address symptoms of anxiety.Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs),monoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOIs),benzodiazepines, andbeta-blockersare some that are most commonly prescribed for anxiety.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

Ways to Cope With Being the Center of Attention

In addition to seeking professional treatment, there are also self-help strategies you can utilize to help you cope with this fear. Such strategies can help you relax and manage your feelings of fear in the moment.

Practice Relaxation Strategies

Try some relaxation techniques to help you calm down when you’re feeling fear or anxiety. Examples of relaxation strategies include:

Expose Yourself to Your Fears

Slowly exposing yourself to attention from others can also be a helpful way to reduce feelings of fear. Doing the things you fear, including making mistakes in social situations, can help show you that the things you fear aren’t as serious as you imagined them to be.

Below is a list of potential items for your fearhierarchyrelated to being the center of attention. Remember to tailor this list to your particular situation and make sure to order the items so that the easiest ones come first.

If you find that your anxiety is severe or that you are unable to face these types of situations at all, you should consider contacting your doctor or a mental health professional fordiagnosisand atreatment plan.

Change How You Interpret Anxiety

Changing your perspective can also be helpful. This involves reappraising the situation so instead of seeing situations as anxiety-provoking, you see them as exciting opportunities.

Takeaways

It’s also important to remember that everyone feels anxious sometimes, and not everyone enjoys being the center of attention. This is perfectly normal, and it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. Feeling fear doesn’t mean you’re weak or flawed.

Social anxiety can also make it feel like all attention is on you, even when it’s not. Taking steps to change your negative thinking patterns, slowly exposing yourself to the things you fear, and utilizing relaxation techniques can help ease your fears and help you feel more confident in social situations.

Everyone experiences anxiety in different ways and to different degrees. What matters is how you manage your fear. Taking steps to address your anxieties over being the center of attention can help ensure you aren’t missing out on important opportunities in life.

Coping With Fear of Social Situations

Frequently Asked QuestionsScopophobia is a type of specific phobia that involves the fear of being stared at. It can vary in terms of severity, from being afraid of scrutiny from strangers to even making eye contact with loved ones. While not always the case, it is frequently associated with social anxiety disorder.Strategies that can help include being well-prepared, practicing your speech beforehand, and visualizing yourself succeeding. Deep breathing can also be helpful for calming your body in the moment. As you give your speech, concentrate on the material you are presenting rather than what you think the audience is doing or thinking.Self-help strategies such as deep breathing, visualization, and gradually exposing yourself to your fears can be helpful. If your fear is connected to social anxiety, it is important to get professional treatment. Exposure therapy, CBT, and medication can be very effective for reducing social fears and improving your quality of life.

Scopophobia is a type of specific phobia that involves the fear of being stared at. It can vary in terms of severity, from being afraid of scrutiny from strangers to even making eye contact with loved ones. While not always the case, it is frequently associated with social anxiety disorder.

Strategies that can help include being well-prepared, practicing your speech beforehand, and visualizing yourself succeeding. Deep breathing can also be helpful for calming your body in the moment. As you give your speech, concentrate on the material you are presenting rather than what you think the audience is doing or thinking.

Self-help strategies such as deep breathing, visualization, and gradually exposing yourself to your fears can be helpful. If your fear is connected to social anxiety, it is important to get professional treatment. Exposure therapy, CBT, and medication can be very effective for reducing social fears and improving your quality of life.

13 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.Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness. National Institute of Mental Health.Jackson B, Compton J, Thornton AL, Dimmock JA.Re-thinking anxiety: Using inoculation messages to reduce and reinterpret public speaking fears.PLoS ONE. 2017;12(1):e0169972. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169972Alencar MS, Kubrusly M, de Oliveira CMC, et al.Association of scopophobia with online learning fatigue among medical students in Brazil.BMC Med Educ. 2023;23(1):221. doi:10.1186/s12909-023-04199-zAlomari NA, Bedaiwi SK, Ghasib AM, et al.Social anxiety disorder: Associated conditions and therapeutic approaches.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32687. doi:10.7759/cureus.32687Sun S, Wang Y, Wang L, et al.Social anxiety and loneliness among older adults: A moderated mediation model.BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):483. doi:10.1186/s12889-024-17795-5Chowdhury N, Khandoker AH.The gold-standard treatment for social anxiety disorder: A roadmap for the future.Front Psychol. 2023;13:1070975. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1070975American Psychological Association.What is exposure therapy?Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.Schwob JT, Newman MG.Brief imaginal exposure exercises for social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial of a self-help momentary intervention app.J Anxiety Disord. 2023;98:102749. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102749Curtiss JE, Levine DS, Ander I, Baker AW.Cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety and stress-related disorders.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(2):184-189. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200045Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-46. PMID:26487814Toussaint L, Nguyen QA, Roettger C, et al.Effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and guided imagery in promoting psychological and physiological states of relaxation.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5924040. doi:10.1155/2021/5924040Moscovitch DA, Waechter S, Bielak T, Rowa K, McCabe RE.Out of the shadows and into the spotlight: Social blunders fuel fear of self-exposure in social anxiety disorder.J Anxiety Disord. 2015;34:24-32. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.06.004Brooks AW.Get excited: reappraising pre-performance anxiety as excitement.J Exp Psychol Gen. 2014;143(3):1144-58. doi:10.1037/a0035325

13 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.Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness. National Institute of Mental Health.Jackson B, Compton J, Thornton AL, Dimmock JA.Re-thinking anxiety: Using inoculation messages to reduce and reinterpret public speaking fears.PLoS ONE. 2017;12(1):e0169972. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169972Alencar MS, Kubrusly M, de Oliveira CMC, et al.Association of scopophobia with online learning fatigue among medical students in Brazil.BMC Med Educ. 2023;23(1):221. doi:10.1186/s12909-023-04199-zAlomari NA, Bedaiwi SK, Ghasib AM, et al.Social anxiety disorder: Associated conditions and therapeutic approaches.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32687. doi:10.7759/cureus.32687Sun S, Wang Y, Wang L, et al.Social anxiety and loneliness among older adults: A moderated mediation model.BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):483. doi:10.1186/s12889-024-17795-5Chowdhury N, Khandoker AH.The gold-standard treatment for social anxiety disorder: A roadmap for the future.Front Psychol. 2023;13:1070975. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1070975American Psychological Association.What is exposure therapy?Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.Schwob JT, Newman MG.Brief imaginal exposure exercises for social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial of a self-help momentary intervention app.J Anxiety Disord. 2023;98:102749. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102749Curtiss JE, Levine DS, Ander I, Baker AW.Cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety and stress-related disorders.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(2):184-189. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200045Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-46. PMID:26487814Toussaint L, Nguyen QA, Roettger C, et al.Effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and guided imagery in promoting psychological and physiological states of relaxation.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5924040. doi:10.1155/2021/5924040Moscovitch DA, Waechter S, Bielak T, Rowa K, McCabe RE.Out of the shadows and into the spotlight: Social blunders fuel fear of self-exposure in social anxiety disorder.J Anxiety Disord. 2015;34:24-32. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.06.004Brooks AW.Get excited: reappraising pre-performance anxiety as excitement.J Exp Psychol Gen. 2014;143(3):1144-58. doi:10.1037/a0035325

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.

Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness. National Institute of Mental Health.Jackson B, Compton J, Thornton AL, Dimmock JA.Re-thinking anxiety: Using inoculation messages to reduce and reinterpret public speaking fears.PLoS ONE. 2017;12(1):e0169972. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169972Alencar MS, Kubrusly M, de Oliveira CMC, et al.Association of scopophobia with online learning fatigue among medical students in Brazil.BMC Med Educ. 2023;23(1):221. doi:10.1186/s12909-023-04199-zAlomari NA, Bedaiwi SK, Ghasib AM, et al.Social anxiety disorder: Associated conditions and therapeutic approaches.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32687. doi:10.7759/cureus.32687Sun S, Wang Y, Wang L, et al.Social anxiety and loneliness among older adults: A moderated mediation model.BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):483. doi:10.1186/s12889-024-17795-5Chowdhury N, Khandoker AH.The gold-standard treatment for social anxiety disorder: A roadmap for the future.Front Psychol. 2023;13:1070975. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1070975American Psychological Association.What is exposure therapy?Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.Schwob JT, Newman MG.Brief imaginal exposure exercises for social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial of a self-help momentary intervention app.J Anxiety Disord. 2023;98:102749. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102749Curtiss JE, Levine DS, Ander I, Baker AW.Cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety and stress-related disorders.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(2):184-189. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200045Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-46. PMID:26487814Toussaint L, Nguyen QA, Roettger C, et al.Effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and guided imagery in promoting psychological and physiological states of relaxation.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5924040. doi:10.1155/2021/5924040Moscovitch DA, Waechter S, Bielak T, Rowa K, McCabe RE.Out of the shadows and into the spotlight: Social blunders fuel fear of self-exposure in social anxiety disorder.J Anxiety Disord. 2015;34:24-32. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.06.004Brooks AW.Get excited: reappraising pre-performance anxiety as excitement.J Exp Psychol Gen. 2014;143(3):1144-58. doi:10.1037/a0035325

Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness. National Institute of Mental Health.

Jackson B, Compton J, Thornton AL, Dimmock JA.Re-thinking anxiety: Using inoculation messages to reduce and reinterpret public speaking fears.PLoS ONE. 2017;12(1):e0169972. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169972

Alencar MS, Kubrusly M, de Oliveira CMC, et al.Association of scopophobia with online learning fatigue among medical students in Brazil.BMC Med Educ. 2023;23(1):221. doi:10.1186/s12909-023-04199-z

Alomari NA, Bedaiwi SK, Ghasib AM, et al.Social anxiety disorder: Associated conditions and therapeutic approaches.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32687. doi:10.7759/cureus.32687

Sun S, Wang Y, Wang L, et al.Social anxiety and loneliness among older adults: A moderated mediation model.BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):483. doi:10.1186/s12889-024-17795-5

Chowdhury N, Khandoker AH.The gold-standard treatment for social anxiety disorder: A roadmap for the future.Front Psychol. 2023;13:1070975. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1070975

American Psychological Association.What is exposure therapy?Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Schwob JT, Newman MG.Brief imaginal exposure exercises for social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial of a self-help momentary intervention app.J Anxiety Disord. 2023;98:102749. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102749

Curtiss JE, Levine DS, Ander I, Baker AW.Cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety and stress-related disorders.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(2):184-189. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200045

Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-46. PMID:26487814

Toussaint L, Nguyen QA, Roettger C, et al.Effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and guided imagery in promoting psychological and physiological states of relaxation.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5924040. doi:10.1155/2021/5924040

Moscovitch DA, Waechter S, Bielak T, Rowa K, McCabe RE.Out of the shadows and into the spotlight: Social blunders fuel fear of self-exposure in social anxiety disorder.J Anxiety Disord. 2015;34:24-32. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.06.004

Brooks AW.Get excited: reappraising pre-performance anxiety as excitement.J Exp Psychol Gen. 2014;143(3):1144-58. doi:10.1037/a0035325

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