Social Anxiety

Social Anxiety

Social Anxiety

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a longstanding and excessive fear of social situations.

How we feel, think, and behave in social situations varies from person to person depending on our personality traits, upbringing, and life experiences. Some people are naturally reserved and shy whereas others might be more outgoing and extroverted, but anyone can have a SAD.

Beyond the typical sensation one might expect when speaking in public, meeting people for the first time, starting at a new job or school, or giving a performance, when the discomfort or feelings of shyness result in anxiety, fear, or avoidance and have an ongoing impact a person’s daily at work, in school then it could be SAD.

Prevalence

The average age of onset of SAD is between 10 to 13 years, and SAD is rarely diagnosed after the age of 25. SAD affects men and women equally at a male to female ratio of approximately 1:1.