Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is the fear of social situations such as meeting new people, going on a date, making phone calls, being the center of attention, being called on in a class, going on interviews, public speaking, or any situation where you think you are being judged or watched. These fears can be so intense that the sufferer avoids them at all costs.

Although many people may be uncomfortable in performance situations, people with social anxiety disorder have anxiety connected to situations such as eating in front of someone or going to parties. The underlying issue is the fear of being scrutinized, judged, or embarrassed. It is normal to get nervous before speaking in front of an audience, but if you obsess over it for weeks, call in sick or get so shaken that you can’t speak, then you may suffer from social anxiety disorder. If social outings create anxiety that interferes with your normal routine and causes tremendous distress, this may also be social anxiety disorder.