Question: Is Stage Fright the Same as Social Anxiety Disorder?
Answer:
Severe stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, can be diagnosed as social anxiety disorder (SAD) if a number of criteria are met. For example, you nearly always experience physical symptoms in the feared situation, and the fear severely impacts your daily functioning.
Stage fright is diagnosed as specific SAD rather than generalized SAD, because it is a fear of only one or a few specific social or performance situations.
Specific SAD is generally more easily overcome than generalized SAD, because it is usually less severe and less chronic.
