Social anxiety disorder isn’t about being shy or disliking people. It’s about fear around being seen, judged, or evaluated by others, often to an intense degree.
People with social anxiety usually know their fears aren’t logical. That doesn’t stop the anxiety from showing up anyway.
It can affect conversations, phone calls, meetings, eating around others, or speaking up in groups. Even positive attention can feel uncomfortable. The worry isn’t just during the situation, but before and after too.
Before, there’s anticipation.
During, there’s tension.
After, there’s replaying everything that happened.
That replaying can be exhausting. Small moments get analysed again and again. Tone of voice. Facial expressions. What was said. What wasn’t said.
From the outside, someone with social anxiety might seem quiet or reserved. Inside, their mind can be loud and critical. Fear of embarrassment or rejection can be constant, even with people they know well.
A common misconception is that social anxiety is about confidence. In reality, many people with social anxiety are capable and self-aware. The anxiety isn’t fixed by “being more confident”.
Avoidance is common. Not because people don’t want connection, but because the anxiety around it feels overwhelming.
Support often involves learning ways to manage the fear and reduce avoidance over time. Professional help is common when social anxiety starts affecting work, relationships, or quality of life.
Many people live with social anxiety for years without realising it’s a recognised condition. Seeing it described can be the first time things start to make sense.
People with social anxiety usually know their fears aren’t logical. That doesn’t stop the anxiety from showing up anyway.
It can affect conversations, phone calls, meetings, eating around others, or speaking up in groups. Even positive attention can feel uncomfortable. The worry isn’t just during the situation, but before and after too.
Before, there’s anticipation.
During, there’s tension.
After, there’s replaying everything that happened.
That replaying can be exhausting. Small moments get analysed again and again. Tone of voice. Facial expressions. What was said. What wasn’t said.
From the outside, someone with social anxiety might seem quiet or reserved. Inside, their mind can be loud and critical. Fear of embarrassment or rejection can be constant, even with people they know well.
A common misconception is that social anxiety is about confidence. In reality, many people with social anxiety are capable and self-aware. The anxiety isn’t fixed by “being more confident”.
Avoidance is common. Not because people don’t want connection, but because the anxiety around it feels overwhelming.
Support often involves learning ways to manage the fear and reduce avoidance over time. Professional help is common when social anxiety starts affecting work, relationships, or quality of life.
Many people live with social anxiety for years without realising it’s a recognised condition. Seeing it described can be the first time things start to make sense.
