Defining Agoraphobia and Social Anxiety Disorder

Agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder both have anxiety-related symptoms that make it challenging for people to engage with others socially. Both frequently occur with other mental health conditions, too, which can further complicate treatment, especially if a proper diagnosis isn’t made. 

What is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia, one of the most common phobias, causes a persistent, intense fear of places or settings where it might be hard to leave or get help during a panic attack. People with agoraphobia generally avoid crowded spaces, open areas, enclosed spaces they’re unfamiliar with, and long lines. They’re likely uneasy about public transportation or other environments where they can’t quickly and easily leave. Feeling trapped or helpless is a significant fear for people with this specific phobia. 

The symptoms caused by agoraphobia can make daily functioning and interactions increasingly challenging. Their intense fear often leads to social isolation in an attempt to avoid triggers. Although agoraphobia can be debilitating, many people successfully manage their condition and regain control of their lives with a solid treatment plan that typically includes therapy and medication.

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder is characterized by an overwhelming fear of being embarrassed or rejected in social settings. It often includes fear of being judged or scrutinized, which can cause intense anxiety about ordinary, everyday activities.

It’s common to confuse social phobia vs. social anxiety, but social phobia has more to do with a specific phobia of things or situations, like performing in front of a crowd or giving a presentation. Social anxiety refers to extreme nervousness and fear of embarrassment when in group gatherings.  

Although social anxiety can impair social functioning, most people can learn effective coping strategies to conquer their fear of being social with appropriate treatment, which typically involves therapy and medication.

Key Differences Between Agoraphobia and Social Anxiety Disorder

While on the surface, these anxiety disorders seem strikingly similar, there are subtle differences that impact how they affect someone’s life and relationships. Understanding the distinctions between social anxiety disorder vs. agoraphobia is crucial.

Focus of fear

One of the main differences between these two conditions is the focus of fear someone experiences when they have one vs the other. People with agoraphobia fear being stuck somewhere and not being able to get help. On the other hand, people with social anxiety disorder are afraid of being judged or criticized by others. 

Triggering situations

Triggers also vary for people with agoraphobia vs. social anxiety. For example, someone with agoraphobia can be triggered by an environment they think would be hard to escape from or places where they believe nobody would help them if they had a panic attack — like being in a big crowd where they don’t know anyone.

In contrast, someone with social anxiety disorder might be triggered by a social setting where they worry the spotlight might be on them. Meeting new people or being the center of attention opens them up to scrutiny and can be incredibly painful due to their extreme fear of embarrassment or criticism.

Symptoms

While the basic premise of symptoms can be similar — avoidance behavior and severe anxiety — people living with agoraphobia often have intense panic attacks as a result of their surroundings.

Common physical symptoms of agoraphobia include:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Shortness of breath
• Staying indoors
• Refusing to leave their home

Social anxiety disorder can manifest in any social situation where someone fears they will be judged negatively by those around them. As a result, it’s common for them to experience panic attacks or have intense anxiety before or during social interactions.

Physical symptoms of social anxiety disorder include:

• Blushing
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Difficulty speaking
• Shaking
• Social isolation
• Withdrawal

Nature of avoidance

Because of the distinct triggers and fears associated with these conditions, the nature of avoidance tactics differs, too.

Avoidance behaviors in people with agoraphobia revolve around environments and situations they perceive as hard to leave or find help. The biggest driver of fear is the possibility of having a panic attack and not being able to get help, so they may not get on that bus to go downtown or go into that crowded mall where they don’t know anyone.

With social anxiety disorder, avoidance behaviors are more centered on social environments that might lead to them being embarrassed, critiqued, or scrutinized. People with social anxiety disorder are often willing to go to great lengths to limit their exposure to what they consider to be threatening environments.