Individuals consulting for social phobia convey vividly the pall of fear hanging over their lives. It is all the more surprising therefore to find no trace of obvious danger in these accounts that mostly focus on seemingly mundane social events. The main source of threat looming is the possibly indifferent or demeaning reactions of others. Although these are not without practical consequences (in terms of social standing), at worst, the immediate prospective harm would be loss of face, not of limb or life. Irrespective of how likely such embarrassing incidents are to occur, the foreseen response to them seems exaggerated by any standard. Indeed, these individuals describe experiencing an almost unrelieved dread, uncertainty, and helplessness with much rumination directed towards guessing various conjunctures that may arise in the future while also brooding over their own awkwardness and incompetence. These are contemplated with a sense of pending doom. Periods of discouragement and loss of hope, especially in the face of setbacks, punctuate the uninterrupted sense of threat.

If these individuals cannot help being in fear-evoking situations, they typically fear shaking (e.g. hand tremor) or blushing or, if all attention is on them, experiencing incapacitating surges of fear (e.g. panic) that would make it all but impossible, say, to speak in public. These might give away their inner turmoil leading to embarrassment and disgrace, adding insult to injury.