Anxiety disorders
Social phobia
The fear of being judged makes you avoid meetings, phone calls or new people. Unlike shyness, it gradually narrows your professional and personal life.
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What is social phobia
Social phobia (or social anxiety disorder) is an intense, persistent fear of being evaluated or judged by others. It ends up limiting you in concrete ways: you stay quiet when you have something to say, and you see your friends less and less.
It affects about 12% of the population at some point in their life. It most often appears between adolescence and the age of 25, but many patients receive the diagnosis much later, after years or decades of believing that “that’s just how I am”.
The difference between social phobia and shyness
We all have moments when we feel ill at ease in social situations. The difference that matters:
| Shyness | Social phobia |
|---|---|
| Discomfort that passes once you are in the situation | Intense anxiety that persists |
| Does not restrict your life | Makes you avoid opportunities |
| Appears in new situations or with strangers | Also appears in familiar, repeated situations |
| Eases as you get used to things | Does not ease with familiarity alone |
| Is a personality trait | Is a clinical disorder |
The hidden cost of social phobia
Many patients with social phobia are high-functioning: professionally successful, respected by colleagues, seen as “serious people” or “introverts”. This is also the trap: because they do not visibly fall apart, no one notices how much this appearance costs them.
The real costs:
- Stalled careers: you turn down promotions that involve exposure
- Burnout: over-preparing for every interaction is exhausting
- Loneliness: you avoid situations in which you could meet people
- Substance dependence: alcohol, anxiolytics, marijuana, as a “social crutch”
- Depression: often the long-term consequence
When to see a specialist
An assessment is worthwhile if:
- you avoid social situations that you would actually like to take part in
- you have turned down a promotion, an important invitation or an opportunity because of fear
- you spend hours or even days going over what you said or did in a conversation
- you have turned to alcohol or other substances to calm yourself down before social events
- your social or professional life is visibly restricted
With a specialist’s support, you can come to say what you think and go where you want, with less fear.
The first step
If you recognise yourself in what you’ve read, book a conversation with one of our specialists. Together, we’ll look at what’s going on and what your options are.
Services: Psychotherapy · Psychiatry
See our team and pricing.
This information is for educational purposes and does not replace a specialist consultation.