US Medical Term · mental-health
Social Anxiety Disorder
Trastorno de ansiedad social
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Social Anxiety Disorder |
| Spanish (Español) | Trastorno de ansiedad social |
| Chinese (中文) | 社交焦慮症 |
| Korean (한국어) | 사회 불안 장애 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Rối loạn lo âu xã hội |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Social anxiety disorder |
| Portuguese (Português) | Transtorno de ansiedade social |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | โรควิตกกังวลทางสังคม |
| Japanese (日本語) | 社交不安障害 |
What it means
Social anxiety disorder is an intense, persistent fear of being watched, judged, or embarrassed in social or performance situations. It goes well beyond shyness — it can cause people to avoid school, work, social events, or any situation where they might interact with others. Physical symptoms can include blushing, sweating, trembling, racing heart, nausea, and difficulty speaking. The fear is recognized as excessive but feels very real and difficult to control. Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common anxiety conditions in the US and is very responsive to treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and certain medications, such as SSRIs, are effective first-line treatments. Many people experience significant improvement with proper care.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I have social anxiety disorder and it is making it very hard for me to go to work or social events.
Tengo trastorno de ansiedad social y me resulta muy difícil ir al trabajo o a eventos sociales.
I was prescribed an SSRI for social anxiety — how long before I notice improvement?
Me recetaron un ISRS para la ansiedad social — ¿cuánto tiempo tardará en notar mejoría?
Can you refer me to a therapist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety?
¿Puede derivarme a un terapeuta especializado en terapia cognitivo-conductual para la ansiedad social?
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
F40 Phobic anxiety disordersRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026