What is Social Anxiety and Should You Join a Support Group? Social Anxiety is a psychiatric disorder. It is the third most common psychiatric illness in the U.S. right below depression and alcoholism.  It affects millions of Americans and can be a debilitating and life altering condition that can prevent us from going out, experiencing social situations, having fun, strengthening our self-confidence and being our best selves. Sufferers of severe anxiety will dread the thought of meeting strangers or