Social anxiety can feel impossible to define when you’re living through it — one day you’re terrified of going outside, the next you’re avoiding people you want to feel close to, and nothing about it feels predictable or logical.

That confusion is exactly why the DSM-5 exists. It’s the manual mental health professionals use to diagnose psychological disorders, and it will help us understand what social anxiety really is and how it shows up in your day-to-day life.

So, if you’ve ever wondered “Do I actually have social anxiety, or am I just shy?” or “Why does social anxiety affect me so strongly?” the DSM-5 criteria can finally give those questions structure and clarity.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how the DSM-5 defines social anxiety disorder and how this classification shapes real-life diagnosis and treatment. By the end, you’ll understand not just the symptoms — but the reasons behind them, and how clinicians use these criteria to help people heal.

What the DSM-5 Is (and Why It Matters)

The DSM-5—the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition— is the official handbook used by psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental-health professionals in the United States.

Published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 2013, it provides standardized criteria for diagnosing every recognized mental disorder, including social anxiety disorder.

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder

The DSM-5 covers a wide variety of mental health disorders, but because this blog is dedicated to recovering from social anxiety disorder, we will analyze what the DSM-5 says about it to help you recover.

Below is a breakdown of criteria the DSM uses to assess if someone has social anxiety:

1. Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations where others may judge them, such as: meeting new people, being observed (eating, writing, working), or performing or speaking in public
2. Fear that visible anxiety symptoms will be negatively evaluated, including fear of: embarrassment, rejection, humiliation, criticism
3. Social situations almost always trigger anxiety (the reaction is consistent, not occasional).
4. Social situations are avoided or endured with intense fear or distress.
   This may include avoiding conversations, public speaking, eye contact, eating in public, or participating in class.
5. The anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat posed in the situation (even if it feels completely justified internally).
6. Symptoms have lasted for 6 months or longer — ensuring the condition is persistent and not due to temporary stress.
7. The anxiety causes significant distress or impairment in: school, work, relationships, daily functioning
8. The symptoms are not better explained by another disorder or medical condition, such as: panic disorder, autism spectrum disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, effects of substances or medication

As you can tell, many of the criteria listed above are highly subjective to the patient’s internal experience. The DSM-5 makes this paramount to the diagnosis of mental health disorders.

This means that if it feels like your anxiety is unmanageable, it is something that can be treated and overcome. It isn’t a sign that something is wrong with you.

So, if you have been consistently experiencing anxiety or distress in social situations and it is impacting the way you live your life, contact a psychological specialist or clinician to receive help for your condition.

As someone who has lived through social anxiety, I understand how difficult it can feel to reach out for help. If you would like someone to help you through your recovery process, feel free to subscribe to my blog.

After you subscribe, you will receive an email from my address, and you can reach out for questions or support at any time.

DSM-5 Subtypes of Social Anxiety Disorder

The DSM-5 also recognizes that social anxiety is different for everyone. To capture these differences, the manual includes two specific subtypes for social anxiety.

1. Performance-Only Subtype

The performance-only subtype applies when social anxiety occurs exclusively during performance situations, such as:

• Public speaking
• Giving a presentation
• Performing on stage
• Speaking or reading aloud in front of a group

People with performance-only social anxiety function normally in everyday interactions but experience intense fear and physical symptoms when they must perform in front of others.

This subtype is especially common among:

• Students
• Musicians
• Athletes
• Employees who present or lead meetings

2. Generalized Social Anxiety Subtype

The generalized social anxiety subtype is more common. In this subtype, fear and avoidance occur across most social situations, including:

• Talking to unfamiliar people
• Eating or writing while being observed
• Participating in conversations
• Attending social gatherings
• Speaking up in class or meetings
• Making phone calls
• Meeting authority figures
• Dating or forming relationships

Generalized social anxiety often involves:

• Broader impairment in daily functioning
• More persistent avoidance
• Higher levels of shame, self-criticism, and fear of judgment

Generalized social anxiety is the subtype I was diagnosed with. It was far more than just a fear of social situations. To me, social anxiety was all-encompassing and something I felt in all aspects of my life.

I couldn’t talk to friends, family, some of the closest people I knew for years. I spent years locked up inside of my head, trying to find my way out.

But the good news is that social anxiety was not permanent for me, and it won’t be for you either. If you would like some helpful information or support from someone who has struggled with social anxiety, please sign up to my newsletter, where you will receive weekly information on overcoming social anxiety straight to your mailbox.

DSM-5 vs. ICD-10: How They Classify Social Anxiety Disorder Differently

In addition to the DSM-5, the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD-10) is another way for clinicians to diagnose social anxiety. In this article, I dive deeper into how social anxiety is defined by the ICD-10 and how it differs from the DSM’s approach.

Here are some brief highlights I mention in the article:

1. Classification Differences

• DSM-5: Uses the name Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) and focuses on the disorder as a broader, impairing anxiety condition
• ICD-10: Uses the name Social Phobia (F40.1), and emphasizes the phobic component of it

Why it matters: The DSM’s approach emphasizes the widespread, chronic nature of the condition, while the ICD focuses more on the phobic nature of the disorder. Neither is “more correct”—they simply reflect different philosophical approaches to classification.

2. Symptomatic Thresholds

• DSM-5:
  • Symptoms last 6 months or more
  • Includes emotional, physical, cognitive, and behavioral criteria
  • There is a strong emphasis on functional impairment
• ICD-10:
  • Symptoms must be persistent, but duration is less strictly specified
  • Focuses mainly on situational fear and avoidance patterns
  • Less detailed on internal experiences like shame or rumination

Why this matters: Some individuals may fit DSM-5 criteria more clearly than ICD-10, depending on how their symptoms appear. Be sure to check in with a psychologist to understand the extent of your symptoms

3. Subtypes

• DSM-5: explicitly lists performance-only as a formal subtype, recognizes generalized social anxiety as involving most social situations
• ICD-10: distinguishes between generalized and non-generalized (unspecified), does not recognize a performance-only subtype

4. Geographic Use

• DSM-5: primarily used in the United States for mental health diagnosis, guides psychotherapy, psychiatry, and insurance definitions
• ICD-10: used globally, especially in hospitals and medical settings, required for insurance billing in many countries

Practical Impact on Your Diagnosis

Even though terminology differs, both the ICD and DSM refer to the same underlying condition. Social Phobia (F40.1) in ICD-10 is equivalent to Social Anxiety Disorder in DSM-5.

If you get diagnosed with either one, the result is still the same.

But this might beg the question: why would the DSM change the name from social phobia to social anxiety disorder?

Why the DSM-5 Changed the Name: Social Phobia to Social Anxiety Disorder

For decades, the DSM classified what we now call social anxiety disorder under the term “social phobia.” The DSM-III (1980) and DSM-IV (1994) labeled the condition as a phobic disorder, reflecting the understanding at the time that fear was mostly situational — triggered by specific social events.

Over time, however, research revealed that social anxiety often extends far beyond isolated fears and experience it across multiple social contexts, impacting their relationships, education, work, and daily life.

The term “phobia” did not fully capture this pervasive and chronic nature. Researchers and clinicians recognized that labeling the condition as a phobia might underestimate its severity and even contribute to stigma, implying irrationality or weakness.

In 2013, with the publication of DSM-5, the American Psychiatric Association updated the terminology to “Social Anxiety Disorder.” The change was made to:

• Emphasize that this is a treatable disorder, not just a fleeting fear
• Underscore the significant functional impairment it causes in everyday life
• Reduce stigma associated with the word “phobia,” which can feel judgmental or dismissive

Personally, I like the name “social anxiety disorder” far more than “social phobia.” Let me know in the comment section below what you think about it.

DSM-5 Resources & Tests

If you would like to further assess if you have social anxiety and feel like the DSM criteria isn’t satisfactory, several resources and self-assessment tools can be helpful:

1. Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS)

The LSAS is one of the most widely used questionnaires to evaluate social and performance-related fears. It helps measure both fear and avoidance across a variety of social situations, giving a snapshot of symptom severity and functional impact.

2. Social Anxiety Disorder Quizzes

Many reputable websites (such as Psychology Today) offer quizzes that mirror DSM-5 criteria. These can help you reflect on your symptoms and identify patterns of anxiety in social situations.

3. Free Online DSM-5-Based Tests

Additional online tools can also help provide a preliminary self-assessment.

Important Notes

• Online quizzes and self-assessments are not official diagnoses.
• Results are meant to guide reflection and awareness, not replace professional evaluation.
• If your self-assessment indicates significant social anxiety, consulting a licensed mental health professional is strongly recommended. A clinician can provide a definitive DSM-5 diagnosis, interpret your experiences in context, and create a tailored treatment plan.

Conclusion / Next Steps

Social anxiety disorder can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that it is treatable. Understanding the DSM-5 classification provides clarity about your experiences, highlights the functional impact of social anxiety, and points you toward the right treatment options.

To better understand what social anxiety disorder is and how it is classified, you may want to check out our guide on Social Anxiety Disorder ICD-10, which explains how clinicians worldwide classify and document social anxiety.

In the meantime, you can:

• Take a free social anxiety self-assessment to reflect on your own symptoms
• Explore related posts comparing social anxiety to shyness, avoidant personality disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder

Remember, having social anxiety does not define you. Knowledge about the disorder is the first step toward recovery, and professional support can help you take actionable steps toward managing symptoms and improving daily life.