What is Social Anxiety?

WHAT IS SOCIAL ANXIETY?

Social Anxiety Disorder, (also known as SAD) and previously called “social phobia”, can be explained as a mental disorder that makes it difficult for someone to socialize. It is an intense fear of being judged and watched by other people, it can affect how you work, going to school, or your everyday life. It makes things such as meeting new people, dating, going for a job interview, or answering class questions very difficult, and that's just to name a few. This kind of fear feels like it is beyond the person's control. It can affect a person so much that they might not even want to go to work or school, because of the fear of what they might say or what someone might say or do to them. But some people with SAD might not have it in social situations; they have something called performance anxiety. It's also a type of social anxiety, but it's affects the way they feel when they have to give a speech, play sports, play an instrument, or act on stage. It is stated by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) that it is estimated that 7% of Americans are affected by SAD. (NIMH, 2016)