Panic attacks are very common for individuals suffering from social anxiety. Unfortunately, few people know information about these two terms and often make confusions, mainly considering that they are synonyms. A panic attack does not happen only in social anxiety related cases. Panic attacks can be triggered by a multitude of events and social anxiety is an experience of fear or worry linked with social situations and evaluation by other individuals.

Social anxiety can be experienced in a variety of ways. To put it simply, different people might have different reactions to public speaking, interviews or various performances held in a surrounding filled with people. The most common one stands in panic attacks of course and the individual can experience different psychological reactions like sweating or blushing. Cognitive components like looking for signs of disapproval or behavioral components like avoiding the entire situation can also be experienced. Social anxiety does cause a lot of difficulties when it comes to all types of social interaction.

Panic attacks can be characterized as unexpected physical symptoms that are combined with thoughts of calamity (heart attack, not being able to breathe and so on). The first panic attack felt by an individual usually happens in one certain situation and can trigger social anxiety.


After the first case, following panic attacks become unpredictable because there is always a fear that the individual can get embarrassed again, as it happened in the first case. If the given panic attack is linked with social anxiety, the symptoms usually exhibited are: increased heart rate, shortness of breath, confusion, dizziness and incapacity to concentrate on anything. After a number of episodes happen, the person that is suffering will become afraid of it happening again. This makes the problem even harder to deal with and can lead to a self imposed social ban.

The good news is that panic attacks linked with social anxiety cases can be treated. There are different methods of dealing with the situation and many experts out there that can lend an important helping hand. The first step that needs to be done is becoming aware of the condition and asking for help.


This rarely happens and the majority of people suffering from social anxiety driven panic attacks will say nothing about it and will try to avoid similar situations like the one that triggered the event.


It is very important to ask for help and go to a specialist that can bring your life back on track. There have been cases of individuals suffering from social anxiety that eventually became very good public speakers.