Question

Can social anxiety cause panic attacks?

Answer 1

Yes, social anxiety can cause panic attacks. If you have social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, then you have a fear of social scrutiny. You fear being embarrassed in front of people. So when you are exposed to crowds of people, you think that you are being judged and being made fun of- so this thinking causes social anxiety, which can then trigger a panic attack.

See the following video which explains how social anxiety and panic attacks develop: