What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

SAD is now recognised as a chronic psychiatric disorder, one that has a considerable impact on a person’s everyday life both socially and at work.

It is characterised by a marked, persistent and unreasonable fear of being observed or judged negatively by other people.  This might happen in a social or performance situation and is associated with both physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety. 

Feared situations, such as speaking to unfamiliar people or eating in public, are either avoided or endured with significant personal distress.

It is often not recognised by doctors because it can be misconstrued as shyness.  But it can be distinguished from shyness by the intensity of personal distress, as well as the social and occupational impairment is causes.

Many patients use alcohol or drugs in an attempt to self-medicate their social anxiety symptoms.