Hi loana. Most people are not aware that social anxiety disorder is a serious and debilitating condition. People with social anxiety fear and avoid a variety of social and performance situation just as people with panic disorder and agoraphobia avoid certain situations. The fear in social anxiety usually has more to do with the potential for humliation and embarrassment but people with social anxiety often experience panic attacks in social and performance situations. As a result of their fear and avoidance of social situations people with social anxiety miss out on a lot and often live restricted and lonely lives. The bottom line is that people with social anxiety are not, in general, better off, than people with panic disorder and agoraphobia. While their problems and symptoms are somewhat different, social anxiety can be just as serious a problem as panic disorder and agoraphobia.
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Anne-Marie, Site Administrator
