Social anxiety disorder also known as social phobia is very much a real thing.It is a psychiatric disorder, and is very different from being shy or being an introvert. Social anxiety disorder or SAD, is an intense anxiety or fear of being judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected in a social or performance situation. People with SAD worry about acting or appearing visibly anxious, for example, stumbling over words, or being viewed as stupid or awkward or boring. As a result, they often avoid social or performance situations, and when a situation cannot be avoided, they experience significant anxiety and distress. This is again, different from your usual feeling of shame or distress at being awkward, people with SAD experience strong physical symptoms, such as a rapid heart rate, nausea, and sweating, and may experience full-blown attacks when confronting a feared situation. People suffering from SAD recognize their fear as excessive and irrational, but often feel