Social anxiety is far more than shyness. It's a persistent, intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated in social situations — and it can quietly shrink your world to a fraction of what it should be. Effective treatment exists, and it works.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is the third most common mental health condition in the United States, affecting an estimated 15 million adults. Yet it remains one of the most underdiagnosed — largely because people assume their intense social fear is simply "who they are."
It isn't. Social anxiety disorder is a medical condition in which the brain's threat-detection system responds to social situations as if they were genuinely dangerous. The fear is disproportionate, persistent, and tied specifically to the possibility of negative evaluation by others — not just general nervousness.
Left untreated, social anxiety tends to worsen over time as avoidance becomes more entrenched. The good news: it responds very well to treatment, and telehealth makes it especially accessible — no crowded waiting rooms required.
Social anxiety can look different in different people. Some struggle primarily in performance situations — public speaking, presentations. Others find all social interaction difficult. Both are social anxiety disorder, and both are treatable. Read more: How to Know If You're Suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder →
Social anxiety frequently co-occurs with depression, GAD, and panic disorder. Our evaluation addresses the full picture.
Social anxiety disorder has among the highest treatment response rates of any anxiety condition — when treated with the right combination of medication and therapy. Our approach is thorough, non-judgmental, and designed to help you rebuild your life on your own terms.
A full 60-minute consultation assessing the scope, severity, and impact of your social anxiety — including specific triggers, avoidance patterns, and any co-occurring conditions that need to be addressed alongside SAD.
SSRIs and SNRIs are the first-line medications for social anxiety disorder and can significantly reduce both the fear response and anticipatory anxiety. We prescribe, monitor, and adjust carefully. Learn more.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy — particularly exposure-based approaches — is the most evidence-supported psychological treatment for social anxiety. We coordinate with CBT therapists to ensure your medication and therapy reinforce each other.
For many people with social anxiety, the idea of sitting in a waiting room full of strangers is itself a barrier to care. Telehealth removes that barrier entirely — you get the same quality care from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Introversion is a personality trait — a preference for quieter, less stimulating environments. It's not distressing and doesn't drive avoidance. Social anxiety disorder involves genuine fear of negative evaluation that causes significant distress and leads to avoiding situations you'd actually like to participate in. Many introverts have no social anxiety whatsoever; many extroverts do have it.
Yes — social anxiety disorder has one of the best treatment response rates of any anxiety condition. A combination of medication (typically SSRIs) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, particularly exposure-based approaches, produces significant improvement in the majority of people who receive proper treatment.
Yes, and for many people with social anxiety it's actually a more accessible starting point than in-person care. Research shows telehealth psychiatric care produces equivalent outcomes to in-person care for anxiety disorders. The privacy and comfort of attending from home can make it easier to open up — especially early in treatment.
Yes. Bedre Health provides social anxiety disorder evaluation and medication management via HIPAA-compliant telehealth to patients anywhere in Massachusetts and other licensed states including New Hampshire, Vermont, and Florida.
This is very common — the isolation and missed opportunities caused by social anxiety frequently contribute to depression. We assess and treat both conditions together as part of a coordinated care plan.
We typically offer same-week appointments for new patients. No referral is needed to get started.
Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Point32 (Harvard Pilgrim / Tufts Health), OPTUM, Evernorth, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, and Medicare. We verify your coverage before your first appointment — no billing surprises.
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No referral needed. First consultation is free.