Social Phobia
Many individuals with social anxiety experience panic in threatening situations. The worry about experiencing panic often leads to avoidance of the specific challenging situation. This process creates a phobia. These challenging scenarios include groups, public speaking, school, authority figures, socializing in general, intimacy, restaurants; any venue where a 'performance' can be evaluated such as sports, performing arts, and academics. Panic can be characterized by an excess of physical symptoms, or by being overwhelmed with disturbing thoughts. The reality is that a panic attack is usually the result of repressed emotions. The body somatizes emotions, which means they are being expressed physically.