Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is an intense and disabling fear of social situations. People with social anxiety experience severe emotional, physical, or cognitive symptoms related to everyday social settings. Left untreated, it can lead to social avoidance.
Formerly known as social phobia, SAD features intense anxiety about being negatively judged or rejected in a social or performance situation.1 It can affect your ability to work, go to school, or go about daily life and lead to isolation, loneliness, and depression.
Social anxiety disorder can be diagnosed by a mental health professional after ruling out other possible causes. Treatment with antianxiety medications and therapy can help manage symptoms.
This article provides an overview of social anxiety disorder. It describes the common symptoms of SAD and explains how it is diagnosed and treated. Read more in Verywell.