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Treatment may not be necessary in situations where social anxiety disorder is minor or where people are able to overcome their fears and do not limit their interactions. However, patients who find that anxiety brought on by social anxiety disorder is interfering with their ability to live or work should see a physician, preferably a mental health professional.

Before diagnosing social anxiety disorder, a physician should perform a complete physical examination and compile a thorough medical history. Patients will be asked to describe their symptoms and to explain what triggers them and how often they occur. Questions that a physician may ask a patient include:

• Do they feel intense fear in situations where they do not know people?
  
  
• Do they fear situations in which they may be judged?
  
  
• Do they fear being embarrassed or humiliated?
  
  
• Do they fear displaying physical signs of anxiety, such as sweating or trembling?
  
  
• Does anxiety disrupt their work, school or other activities?

There are no laboratory tests used to diagnose social anxiety disorder. However, a physician may also want to rule out other medical conditions that could be causing symptoms, such as a heart problem or an overactive thyroid gland. In such cases, blood tests or other procedures may be used to rule out a medical illness. Children may not be diagnosed with social anxiety disorder until they have experienced symptoms for at least six months.