Conditions we treat
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety isn’t shyness or a personality flaw. It’s a treatable condition that can quietly narrow your world — and with the right support, your world can open back up.
What is social anxiety?
Social anxiety disorder is a persistent, intense fear of being watched, judged, or embarrassed in social situations. It goes beyond the everyday nerves that most people feel before a big presentation or a first date — it’s a sustained dread that shapes choices, avoids situations, and often leads to a smaller life than the person actually wants.
At The Psychiatric Center, we treat social anxiety in all its forms — performance-only anxiety (public speaking, presentations), generalized social anxiety (most social situations feel threatening), and the kind of social fear that’s developed alongside depression, substance use, or another anxiety disorder. Many people have lived with it so long they assume it’s just who they are.
It’s not. Social anxiety is one of the most treatable mental health conditions, and meaningful improvement is typical with the right combination of therapy and — when useful — medication.
How social anxiety can present differently
Performance anxiety
Intense fear of public speaking, presentations, performing, or being evaluated at work. The dread can start days in advance, and the physical symptoms — racing heart, shaky voice, blanking mind — often confirm the fear of being judged.
Generalized social anxiety
Most social situations feel threatening — meetings, phone calls, small talk, dating, eating in front of others. People may appear quiet or reserved, but underneath they’re scanning for judgment, rehearsing what to say, and often replaying interactions for hours afterward.
Avoidance that looks like preference
Over time, many people shape their lives around what feels tolerable — declining invitations, avoiding promotions, working remotely, staying quiet in meetings. It can look like introversion or being picky about friends. The tell is that it’s driven by fear, not by genuine preference.
Quick facts
- Affects about 7% of US adults in any given year
- Typically begins in adolescence and often goes undiagnosed for years
- Highly responsive to therapy, medication, or both
- Frequently co-occurs with depression and substance use
Related conditions
Our approach
How we treat social anxiety
01
Understand
We start by mapping how social anxiety actually shows up in your life — which situations, which symptoms, which avoidance patterns — and screen for co-occurring depression, substance use, or other anxiety disorders that commonly travel with it.
02
Build a plan
Treatment is typically CBT-based therapy, medication (SSRIs, SNRIs, or situational beta-blockers for performance anxiety), or both. We match the plan to your situation — whether you need help with a specific upcoming event or a broader pattern.
03
Support you
Change happens gradually as avoided situations become tolerable and then ordinary. We stay with you through the process — adjusting treatment, celebrating real wins, and helping you reclaim the parts of life that fear has narrowed.
Common questions
Frequently asked
Is social anxiety the same as being shy or introverted?
No. Shyness is a personality trait, and introversion is about where you get your energy — neither is a disorder. Social anxiety is a fear response that drives avoidance, causes distress, and interferes with the life you want. Many social anxiety patients are actually extroverts underneath — they want connection but fear stops them.
Do I have to do exposure therapy?
Some form of gradual exposure is an important piece of effective treatment — but it’s always collaborative, graduated, and at a pace you agree to. It’s not about being thrown into terrifying situations. Medication can also reduce the physiological component, which makes exposure much more tolerable.
Will I have to take medication forever?
Not necessarily. Some people use SSRIs or SNRIs for a year or two while therapy skills take hold, then gradually taper. Others benefit from longer-term medication. For performance-only anxiety, beta-blockers used just before specific events are often enough.
I’ve had this my whole life — can it really change?
Yes. Social anxiety often starts in adolescence and can feel like part of who you are by adulthood. But it’s one of the most treatable conditions we see, and even long-standing patterns respond to good treatment. People are often surprised by how much changes.
Your world can open back up
Call us to schedule an evaluation. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.