Which mental health disorder is characterized by severe anxiety and avoidance of social situations?

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might be judged, embarrassed, or scrutinized by others. Individuals with this disorder often experience severe anxiety in social interactions, which can lead to significant avoidance behavior. They may go to great lengths to avoid situations such as public speaking, attending social gatherings, or even simple interactions like meeting new people.

The hallmark symptoms include overwhelming feelings of anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, and physical symptoms such as sweating or rapid heartbeat when faced with social situations. This disorder can severely impact a person’s quality of life, as the avoidance behaviors can inhibit personal relationships, academic performance, and job opportunities.

In contrast, other disorders listed do not specifically focus on social situations. Generalized anxiety disorder involves chronic and excessive worry about various aspects of life; panic disorder includes recurrent panic attacks with physical symptoms, and post-traumatic stress disorder is triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, with symptoms like flashbacks and hyperarousal but does not specifically involve social avoidance as a primary characteristic.