“At school, I was always afraid of being questioned, even though I knew the answers. When I got the job, I hated meeting my boss. I couldn't have lunch with my colleagues. I was afraid of being looked at or judged, and I was afraid of making a fool of myself. My heart was pounding and I was starting to sweat thinking about the meetings. The feelings got worse as the time of the event got closer. Sometimes I couldn’t sleep or eat for days before a staff meeting” (“NIMH – Social Phobia,” 2011). Social anxiety, or social phobia, affects many people. This is a person's fear of being in a public situation, preventing them from carrying out daily tasks as they should. Usually, a person with social anxiety disorder is uncomfortable around others and extremely nervous in general. Degrees of social anxiety range from vague, dreading a presentation, to debilitating, avoiding situations for weeks (“NIMH-Social Phobia,” 2011). Many people would be shocked to discover how common social anxiety is. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, forty million people in the United States aged eighteen or older suffer from anxiety disorders, not including children. Social anxiety is one of the most common types of anxiety disorders, with fifteen million people suffering from it in the United States. This is estimated to represent approximately 6.8 percent of the country's total population (“Facts & Statistics,” 2010). Although it is so common, it is confused with other descriptions intended for humans. As a nation, we need to become more aware of what social anxiety disorder is and what can be done to reduce social anxiety in everyday life. Chances are that if some... middle of paper ... .. Awareness is key in a disorder like this, so it is extremely important to know all the facts. With all the facts, one can seek help and avoid social anxiety disorder completely. Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (nd). Retrieved April 13, 2014 from http://www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statisticsNIMH · Social phobia (social anxiety disorder). (nd). Accessed April 8, 2014, from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/social-phobia-social-anxiety-disorder/index.shtmlSanta Clara University - Wellness Center - Anxiety. (2004). Accessed April 8, 2014, from https://www.scu.edu/wellness/topics/anxiety.cfmShaw, G. (nd). Social Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, or Shyness - WebMD. Accessed April 8, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/just-shy-social-anxiety-disorder