Social anxiety: Beyond being just shy

For anyone with social anxiety, even brief everyday social encounters, like making small talk with a neighbour, can be extremely stressful. — dpa

A social anxiety disorder is more than mere shyness, says Dr Steffen Häfner, a German specialist in psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy.

It manifests itself in an intense fear of being the centre of attention or judged – let alone rejected – by others.