Social Phobia

People with social phobia experience intense fear of negative judgment from others, of embarrassing themselves, or being perceived as odd. They feel ashamed of their own behavior and visible anxiety reactions (e.g., sweating, trembling, blushing). As a result, they fear social situations and interactions where they are the center of attention.

These situations are avoided whenever possible or endured only under extreme anxiety, sometimes even leading to panic attacks. Afterwards, individuals often ruminate for a long time about the situation, fearing they were seen as awkward or judged negatively. This severely restricts their social life. Affected individuals often struggle to find partners and friends, live socially isolated, and may not fully realize their potential in their careers.