Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common anxiety conditions, affecting around 1 in 10 people at some point in their lives. It involves an intense fear of social situations — not just shyness — driven by a deep concern about being judged, embarrassed or humiliated. It can significantly limit careers, relationships and daily life, but responds very well to therapy.
See therapies that may helpSocial anxiety disorder (also called social phobia) is characterised by an intense, persistent fear of social situations in which you might be scrutinised, judged or embarrassed. It goes well beyond ordinary shyness — the anxiety is disproportionate to the actual threat, is recognised as excessive by the person experiencing it, and significantly interferes with daily functioning.
Common feared situations include speaking in public, meeting new people, eating or drinking in front of others, using public toilets, writing in front of others, or any situation where you feel you might be the centre of attention. The fear is not of the situation itself but of what others might think — that you will say something stupid, blush, sweat, or otherwise embarrass yourself.
Social anxiety often begins in adolescence and, without treatment, tends to be chronic. It is frequently misunderstood as introversion or lack of confidence, when in reality it involves significant distress and avoidance that goes far beyond preference for quieter social settings.
Signs of social anxiety include:
CBT is the most evidenced treatment for social anxiety and is recommended by NICE. The CBT model for social anxiety addresses the specific maintaining factors — including self-focused attention, safety behaviours and post-event processing — that keep social anxiety going.
Key elements of treatment include:
Other helpful approaches include:
Social anxiety is one of the most underreported and undertreated anxiety conditions — many people assume it is just "who they are" rather than a treatable condition. If social fear is limiting your career, relationships or quality of life, therapy can make a substantial difference.
CBT for social anxiety works best when delivered by a therapist experienced in the specific CBT model for social phobia — not all CBT therapists have this specialisation. It is worth asking specifically about their approach to social anxiety before beginning.
Showing 12 therapies linked to Social anxiety.
| Therapy | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Behavioural Therapist |
strong
|
CBT helps identify and challenge the fearful thoughts about being judged that drive social anxiety, while gradual exposure builds confidence in feared situations. |
| Counsellor |
strong
|
Talking through social fears with a counsellor offers a safe space to explore where avoidance comes from and to practise facing everyday social situations. |
| EMDR Practitioner |
strong
|
EMDR can reprocess distressing memories of humiliation or rejection that often underpin social anxiety, reducing their emotional charge in present situations. |
| ISTDP Practitioner |
strong
|
ISTDP works to uncover and release the buried emotions and defences behind social avoidance, helping you feel less guarded around other people. |
| Mindfulness Practitioner |
strong
|
Mindfulness teaches you to notice anxious thoughts and bodily sensations before social situations without being swept up in them, easing the urge to avoid. |
| Psychotherapist |
strong
|
Psychotherapy explores the deeper roots of social fear, such as early experiences of criticism or shame, helping reshape how you relate to others. |
| Arts Therapist |
moderate
|
Arts therapy provides a non-verbal way to express social fears and self-consciousness when words feel difficult, best used alongside appropriate professional care. |
| Biofeedback Practitioner |
moderate
|
Biofeedback helps you recognise and calm the physical signs of anxiety, like a racing heart, before social situations; it works best as a support to professional care. |
| EFT Practitioner |
moderate
|
EFT pairs tapping on acupressure points with focusing on social fears; it may offer supportive relief but evidence is limited and it should not replace professional care. |
| Hypnotherapist |
moderate
|
Hypnotherapy uses focused relaxation to ease anticipatory anxiety before social events; it can be a supportive aid, though evidence is limited and not a substitute for professional care. |
| NLP Practitioner |
moderate
|
NLP offers techniques aimed at reframing the inner dialogue behind social fear; this is a complementary approach with limited evidence and not a replacement for professional care. |
| Regression Therapist |
moderate
|
Regression therapy revisits early experiences thought to shape social fear; this is a complementary approach with limited evidence and not a substitute for professional care. |
No — shyness is a personality trait involving mild discomfort in social situations that does not significantly impair functioning. Social anxiety disorder involves intense fear, significant avoidance, and meaningful impact on daily life, career and relationships. The distinction matters because social anxiety is a treatable condition, not a fixed personality characteristic.
Social anxiety is typically triggered by situations involving potential scrutiny or evaluation by others — public speaking, meeting new people, being observed doing tasks, or any situation where embarrassment feels possible. The underlying fear is of negative evaluation and its consequences.
Many people achieve substantial or complete recovery from social anxiety through CBT. The key is not just reducing anxiety levels but changing the behaviours (avoidance, safety behaviours) and thinking patterns (self-focused attention, post-event processing) that maintain it. This requires committed engagement with the exposure components of treatment.
SSRIs are recommended by NICE for social anxiety disorder and can reduce symptoms enough to make engaging with therapy easier. They are most effective when combined with CBT rather than used alone, as medication does not address the maintaining factors that keep social anxiety going.
A standard course of CBT for social anxiety runs 12–16 sessions. Progress depends significantly on willingness to engage in behavioural experiments between sessions — social anxiety improves through doing, not just understanding. Group CBT programmes can be highly effective and are sometimes available through IAPT.