If you have anxiety attacks on a fairly regular basis you will want to take the time to learn a little more about the symptoms of social anxiety disorder so that you can decide for yourself if you need to seek possible help for this condition.

If you experience the symptoms below in a manner that is consistent with social anxiety disorder you should consider getting help before it interrupts your life to the point that you literally cut yourself off from the world.

So, what symptoms of social anxiety disorder should you be paying close attention to?

Panic attacks which happen in specific situations - There are times when panic is the normal response to an event; an occasional bout of panic doesn't necessarily mean that you have social anxiety disorder. However, if your attacks are severe and common enough to keep you from living your life, then it's likely that you have social anxiety disorder, especially if these attacks seem to occur in specific settings.

Avoidance of uncomfortable situations - Chances are that if you are really experiencing symptoms of social anxiety disorder that you are beginning to avoid situations where you feel as though people will be in a position to judge, point fingers, or laugh at you. Whether or not they are doing this, if you stop giving people the opportunity to do so by cutting yourself off from the world then you will be glad to know that there is help that will allow you to become part of the world once again instead of watching the world pass you by.

Loss of friends - Are you losing touch with lifelong friends? Often this is one of the side effects of the symptoms of social anxiety disorder. It is worth noting though because it will help give you a time line or a litmus test of sorts for how long you've been pulling away from the world.

Depression - This is a common condition in those who are already suffering from the symptoms of social anxiety disorder. This only compounds a problem which can be crippling enough on its own; and if this wasn't enough, those who are already isolated tend to cope with depression by self medicating, turning to alcohol and/or drug abuse.

Avoid alcohol and drug use whenever possible if you are suffering from depression as it will only exacerbate the problem. When you are isolated from the world as is often the case with social anxiety disorder it may take much longer for others to notice and intervene.

If you are suffering from the symptoms of social anxiety disorder, you should seek treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you get help, the sooner you will be able to recover and get your life back, free of the curse of social anxiety disorder.