People with social anxiety disorder believe that in social situations they are being looked at, scrutinized and judged by other people. This produces great anxiety in the sufferers of social anxiety disorder. They try and avoid such environments, and if they cannot avoid them they refrain from participating in conversations and, for example, prefer to sit in a corner where they are least likely to draw attention to themselves. Even the thought of being in a social situation makes them anxious. Some people only become anxious in particular situations, like talking, writing, or playing an instrument in front of a crowd. Others experience anxiety in almost all social situations and environments like a restaurant, canteen, seminar room or a friends gathering, where they feel they are being looked at.
