Social anxiety disorder is a condition, more than temporary, and sometimes permanent, in which the sufferer feels a distinct sense of anxiousness in social settings. It is often misinterpreted as mere shyness or even snobbishness. Many people have one form of social anxiety disorder or another. But it is important to understand the difference between fleeting feelings of nervousness, and real social anxiety disorder. Sometimes you can sense whether something is wrong all by yourself, whether there is a doctor to confirm your suspicions or not. But sometimes you would need a doctor to guide you in the diagnosis.

Symptoms of social anxiety disorder are both emotional and physical, and they vary from individual to individual, though most commonly they include overwhelming feelings of panic, fear, and anxiety, along with uncontrollable obsessive thoughts and a variety of physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, numbness, and muscular tension. The physical symptoms include sleep disturbances, cold or clammy hands, racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, jitteriness, dry mouth, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, gastrointestinal upset, and muscular tension.

In a few cases where the symptoms are severe, it could seem that the person is suffering from a heart attack or any other illness. These symptoms often occur for no apparent reason, and they are persistent. Such symptoms, if left untreated, can make the person immobile and he may refuse to leave the home completely. Individuals with any such anxiety symptoms should visit a psychiatrist for a thorough examination and diagnosis before making any conclusions about themselves.