What We Treat
Social Anxiety
Learn about social anxiety symptoms and treatment approaches at Westwood Institute.
About Social Anxiety
Social anxiety can involve intense fear of judgment, embarrassment, or scrutiny in social or performance situations.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms may include avoidance, anticipatory anxiety, self-monitoring, and distress in social settings.
Treatment Approach
Treatment helps patients reduce avoidance and build tolerance for feared social situations.
Related Pages
Your questions, answered
Frequently asked questions about Social Anxiety Disorder
How is social anxiety disorder different from shyness?
Social anxiety disorder involves persistent fear of being judged or scrutinized that causes distress or interferes with daily life. Shyness alone does not necessarily prevent participation in valued activities.
Can social anxiety affect work or school?
Yes. Meetings, presentations, classroom participation, conversations, and eating around others can become difficult. The situations that trigger anxiety vary from person to person.
What does treatment for social anxiety involve?
CBT can help people examine feared judgments and gradually practice social situations they have avoided. Medication may also be an option following evaluation by a prescribing clinician.
Can someone have social anxiety only when performing?
Yes. For some people, symptoms are mainly linked to performance situations such as public speaking. Others experience anxiety across many social interactions. Treatment is tailored to that pattern.
Further reading: National Institute of Mental Health