Signs & Symptoms

• Intense fear of social and performance situations
• Avoids social situations or endures them with intense distress
• Fears situations such as unstructured interactions with peers, initiating conversations, performing in front of others, inviting others to get together, talking on the telephone, and eating in front of others
• Minimal interaction and conversation with peers
• Appears isolated and on the fringes of the group
• May sit alone in the library or cafeteria, hang back
• Excessive shyness
• Concern about negative evaluation, humiliation or embarrassment
• Difficulty with public speaking, reading aloud, being called on in class, gym class
• Anticipation of a social event may provoke a panic attack
• Physical symptoms such as sweating, blushing, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, nausea, muscle tenseness