Center for the Treatment & Study of Anxiety
3535 Market Street, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-746-3327
Web: www.anxietystudycenter.org

Social Anxiety Disorder

Fear and Anxiety in Social Situations

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is also commonly called Social Phobia. People with SAD have an excessive fear of social situations. They suffer from extreme self-consciousness and worry that they will embarrass themselves in front of other people. They are very fearful of making mistakes and being judged by others. People with SAD tend to believe that the people they interact with have poor opinions of them.

Social Anxiety Disorder interrupts a person's ability to get through day to day life. It might be very difficult for a person with SAD to:

Make eye contact
Be introduced to strangers
Give presentations to a room full of people
Order from a waiter at a restaurant
Call to make a doctor's appointment
Use public restrooms

Avoidance

As a result of this intense anxiety, these individuals may resort to avoiding all situations in which they might interact with people they don't know or don't feel comfortable with. This avoidance can cause sufferers to become even more separated from the outside world and even from loved ones. If a social meeting is planned that cannot be avoided, sufferers will often have an intense period of heightened anxiety as they prepare for and anticipate the event. This increased anxiety can lead to panic attacks.

Physical Symptoms

Some people with SAD may experience physical symptoms related to their anxiety such as:

Blushing
Sweating
Shaking
Stuttering
Nausea
Upset stomach

Social Anxiety Disorder Links

Online test:

Social Anxiety Disorder Diagnostic Questionnaire

Celebrities with Social Anxiety Disorder:

SAD information and community:

Torment's Intensive Carer

Penetrating methods make Dr. Edna Foa a leader in treating post-traumatic stress. Read the article in the Philadelphia Inquirer by Stacey Burling

Dr. Edna Foa named TIME 100 Most Influential

TIME magazine named Edna Foa, PhD, to the magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Dr. Foa was recognized for her outstanding contributions in the area of treatment research for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Take The OCD Self Test

The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, short form (OCI-R) is a reliable and valid self-report measure of OCD symptoms. This measure was developed by OCD experts at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. Take our OCD Online Test.

Titles by Our Faculty

Stop Obsessing! by Drs. Edna Foa and Reid Wilson includes step-by-step programs for both mild and severe cases of OCD and the most effective ways to help you let go of your obsessions and gain control over your compulsions.