Social Anxiety Disorder involves an intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or negatively evaluated in social or performance situations. This fear leads to avoidance, overthinking, and physical symptoms that make social interactions feel overwhelming, draining, or threatening.

Social anxiety is not shyness—it’s a persistent, impairing pattern that affects work, relationships, decision-making, and daily routines.

People with Social Anxiety Disorder often experience:

• Worry about seeming awkward, boring, incompetent, or “off”
• Fear of disappointing others or making a bad impression
• Fear of conflict or drawing attention
   

• Concern about blushing, sweating, shaking, or stumbling over words
• Worry about saying something “wrong”
• Fear of visibly showing anxiety
   

• Anxiety during meetings, presentations, or group activities
• Difficulty eating, writing, or performing tasks while others are present
   

• Fear of long pauses, awkward silence, or not knowing what to say
• Fear of interrupting or misreading social cues
   

• Hyper-awareness of voice, posture, facial expressions
• Feeling scrutinized, monitored, or “spotlighted”
   

Social anxiety often leads to patterns that temporarily reduce distress but reinforce fear long-term.

• Skipping social events, meetings, classes, or gatherings
• Avoiding presentations or leadership opportunities
• Avoiding dating or forming new relationships
   

• Replaying conversations repeatedly
• Planning sentences in advance
• Overanalyzing tone, wording, and perceived mistakes
• Assuming others are upset, annoyed, or judging
   

• Rehearsing conversations
• Staying quiet to avoid being noticed
• Using your phone as a distraction
• Avoiding eye contact
• Allowing others to lead interactions
   

• Rapid heartbeat
• Sweating, trembling, “shaky voice”
• Nausea or tightness in chest
• Feeling disconnected or frozen
   

These reactions can become significantly impairing when they occur frequently and influence daily decisions.

Social anxiety is maintained through a cycle:

Trigger → Fear → Avoidance/Safety Behaviors → Short-Term Relief → More Sensitivity Next Time

The brain never gets the chance to learn that social situations can be tolerated or managed without avoidance.

This is why behavioral therapy—especially exposure-based work—is the most effective approach.

Exposure Response Prevention therapy

• Gradual practice of feared social situations
• Reduces avoidance and reliance on safety behaviors
• Builds tolerance for discomfort
• Allows new learning that feared outcomes are less likely or manageable

Treatment is structured, predictable, and collaborative—focused on helping you engage more fully in daily life without being controlled by social fear.

You may be dealing with social anxiety if:

• You avoid or dread social or performance situations
• You experience physical symptoms during interactions
• You worry excessively about being judged
• You replay conversations long after they end
• You rely heavily on safety behaviors (phone checking, staying silent, planning every word)
• Your social fear interferes with work, relationships, or opportunities
   

Social Anxiety Disorder is one of the most common anxiety conditions and affects people of all ages. It frequently overlaps with:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• OCD
• Perfectionism
• Depression
   

Whatif provides telehealth therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder across California, serving:
Los Angeles • San Diego • Orange County • San Francisco • Long Beach • Sacramento • Riverside • San Jose • Oakland • Fresno • Bakersfield • and statewide.