Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by an intense and persistent fear of being scrutinized, embarrassed, or negatively evaluated in social or performance situations. Individuals often experience significant distress when speaking, eating, writing, or performing in front of others, and may avoid such situations altogether. This fear typically exceeds normal shyness and interferes with work, school, or relationships. The therapeutic focus is on reducing avoidance, correcting distorted beliefs about social evaluation, and building confidence through graduated exposure and cognitive restructuring.
