Social Phobias or Social Phobia

The person with a social phobia is intensely afraid of being judged by others. Even at a gathering of many people, the social phobic expects to be singled out, scrutinized, and found wanting. Thus, the person with a social phobia feels compelled to avoid social situations with such apprehensions.

If you have a social phobia, you might be afraid to go to a party because you fear that other people will laugh at your clothing or think you are hopelessly stupid because you won't be able to think of anything to say. Like people with simple phobias, you work hard to avoid these anxiety-provoking situations.

People with social phobias are usually most anxious over feeling humiliated or embarrassed by showing fear in front of others. Ironically, they are often so crippled by the inhibitions resulting from such fears that they, in fact, may have difficulty thinking clearly, remembering facts, or expressing themselves in words. Even success in social situations fails to make them feel more confident. They are likely to think something like, "Next time I'll fall on my face."

Although studies of the incidence of social phobias are so far only preliminary, most experts believe social phobias are not as common as simple phobias. But because they result in considerable distress, people who suffer from them are more likely to seek treatment than are people with simple phobias. Social phobias tend to begin between the ages of 15 and 20 and, if left untreated, continue through much of the person's life. Often, social phobias suffer from symptoms of depression, and many also become dependent on alcohol.