We all have those moments where we wish we could disappear into the earth, lie down forever, and avoid talking to another human being ever again. It happens.
But jokes aside, social anxiety is very real. And it’s not just shyness, introversion, or awkwardness, as it’s often misunderstood to be. It’s a mental health condition marked by a fear of social situations that’s intense enough to cause serious distress and interfere with daily life.
It’s also more common than you might think. Social anxiety is part of a broader group of anxiety disorders, which includes generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These disorders are among the most frequent mental health issues out there. In the U.S. alone, anxiety disorders affect around 40 million adults—about 19% of the population.
To understand more about how social anxiety shows up and how it differs from certain personality traits, Bored Panda spoke with clinical psychologist Dr. Aneesa Shariff.
“Being shy is a very common and normal experience,” she explained. “Most people feel shy in different situations and eventually become more comfortable as they become familiar with the situation. Social anxiety however, is more persistent and can cause a lot of anticipatory anxiety about upcoming social events as well as anxiety in the moment.”
People with social anxiety often feel nervous about attending parties, making small talk, going out with friends, meeting new people, or even being the center of attention—like during work meetings or class presentations.
“They will typically either try to avoid these situations altogether or will experience a huge amount of anxiety and distress while in the situation,” Dr. Shariff said. “This can cause them to become socially isolated, lack friendships or relationships, and generally feel like they are not able to live their lives in the way they want to, due to the avoidance of triggers for their social anxiety.”
