Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, is characterized by fear of a social situation or performance. The person with social anxiety disorder expects to feel embarrassed, rejected, judged or fearful of offending others. Symptoms of social anxiety disorder include anxiety, intense worry, nausea, blushing, sweating or trembling around others. Those with social anxiety disorder often stay away from places with other people and generally have a hard time making friends as they feel self-conscious in front of others.

Social anxiety disorder symptoms include:

  • Staying away from places where there are other people
  • Having a hard time making friends and keeping friends
  • Blushing, sweating, or trembling around other people
  • Feeling nauseous or sick to your stomach when other people are around
  • Feeling highly anxious about being with other people and having a hard time talking to them
  • Feeling very self-conscious in front of other people and worried about feeling humiliated, embarrassed, or rejected, or fearful of offending others
  • Being very afraid that other people will judge them
  • Worrying for days or weeks before an event where other people will be