Know if you have social anxiety. Social anxiety is a disorder in which a person is not able to function in daily life, including at school, work, or social events. A person suffering from social anxiety tends to keep close to family and trusted friends and avoid all public interpersonal relationships. Social anxiety stems from a constant fear that other people are scrutinizing the sufferer in order to humiliate or embarrass them.For more information about social anxiety and how to treat it, check out How to Overcome Social Anxiety.