Everyone at some point in time has experienced anxiety during some social and performance situation. In fact, in one survey only 5% of people said that they had never been shy at any time in their life. Social anxiety is a term used to describe an experience of anxiety like:

• emotional discomfort,
• fear,
• apprehension
• worry
• regarding social situations,
• interactions with other and being evaluated or scrutinized by other people.

A psychopathological form of social anxiety is called “social anxiety disorder” or social phobia. This disorder can become major obsessions and can result in a reduced quality of life.

Examples of Feared Performance Situations in Social Anxiety Disorder:

• Talking in meetings or classes
• Public speaking
• Performing music or acting on stage
• Participating in sports or working out in front of others
• Writing in front of others
• Using public restrooms when other people are nearby
• Eating or drinking in front of others
• Being in public areas such as a shopping mall or a bus
• Making mistakes in front of others

Examples of Feared Social Interaction Situations in Social Anxiety Disorder:

• Initiating or maintaining conversation
• Going to a party
• Inviting friends over for dinner
• Talking on the phone
• Talking to strangers
• Expressing personal opinions
• Talking to people in authority (e.g., professor, doctor, employer)
• Being assertive (e.g., refusing to give in to unreasonable requests, asking others to change their behavior)
• Returning items to a store or sending food back in a restaurant
• Being in intimate situations

Social anxiety can be self-integrated & persistent for people who suffer from O.C.D, which can make social anxiety even harder to control, especially if ignored.

Sources: anxietytreatment.ca, en.wikipedia.org