978-1-4222-3377-1

22

People with social anxiety have a lot of trouble talking to people they don’t know well. Unfortunately, this can make others think that the person is unfriendly or stupid, which only makes the person with the anxiety feel worse. Having social anxiety is kind of like having a phobia. In fact, doctors used to refer to social anxiety as “social phobia,” and you still might hear that term sometimes.

People with social anxiety disorder

often worry that they are being judged by others, even when it isn’t true.