Persons who suffer from social anxiety disorder feel this discomfort to a far greater intensity, frequency and duration. They are tormented by thoughts that their behavior is watched and negatively evaluated by others. The physical experience of anxiety multiplies their pain. They feel flushed, they sweat, their hands shake and their hearts pound. Their experience goes far beyond what might be called normal shyness.

The disorder has been divided into subtypes: a generalized subtype, and a subtype that applies to various specific phobias such as public speaking, eating in public, or urinating in a public facility or when others are waiting.