Social anxiety affects around 7% of the population. People with social anxiety disorder usually feel nervous and uncomfortable in social situations. They are concerned that they will do something embarrassing or humiliating, causing others to think poorly of them. Most people with social anxiety disorder experience symptoms as early as childhood or adolescence. Social anxiety disorder, like other anxiety disorders, tends to be hereditary. Read about Anxiety In Children.
Social anxiety disorder becomes a problem when the feelings become too intense or frequent and affect many aspects of a person’s life.
Typical situations where people with social anxiety disorder experience difficulties may include participating in meetings or in class, giving presentations, attending social gatherings, speaking over the phone, dating, meeting new people, eating in public, writing in public, and more.
