Screening for Social Anxiety Disorder

If you suspect that you might suffer from social anxiety disorder, answer the questions below, print out the results, and share them with your health care professional.

To locate a specialist who treats social anxiety disorder, visit the ADAA Find a Therapist.

Are you troubled by the following?

Yes     No An intense and persistent fear of a social situation in which people might judge you
Yes   No Fear that you will be humiliated by your actions
Yes   No Fear that people will notice that you are blushing, sweating, trembling, or showing other signs of anxiety
Yes   No Knowing that your fear is excessive or unreasonable

 

Does a feared situation cause you to...

Yes   No always feel anxious?
Yes   No experience a panic attack, during which you suddenly are overcome by intense fear or discomfort, including any of these symptoms:
Yes   No Pounding heart
Yes   No Sweating
Yes   No Trembling or shaking
Yes   No Choking
Yes   No Chest pain
Yes   No nausea or abdominal discomfort
Yes   No "Jelly" legs
Yes   No Dizziness
Yes   No Feelings of unreality or being detached from yourself
Yes   No Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
Yes   No Fear of dying
Yes   No Numbness or tingling sensations
Yes   No Chills or hot flushes
Yes   No go to great lengths to avoid participating?
Yes   No have your symptoms interfere with your daily life?

Having more than one illness at the same time can make it difficult to diagnose and treat the different conditions. Depression and substance abuse are among the conditions that occasionally complicate social anxiety disorder.

Yes   No Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

More days than not, do you feel…

Yes   No sad or depressed?
Yes   No disinterested in life?
Yes   No worthless or guilty?

During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs...

Yes   No resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?
Yes   No placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?
Yes   No gotten you arrested?
Yes   No continued despite causing problems for you or your loved ones?

 

Reference:
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 1994.

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