Social Anxiety Disorder vs. Avoidant Personality Disorder

Key Differences

Fear of closeness or intimacy
Social Anxiety Disorder: Common
Avoidant Personality Disorder: Core
Explanation: In social anxiety this may show up as nervousness about being evaluated, while in avoidant personality disorder it is more central and may involve pulling back from closeness even when connection is wanted.
Difficulty maintaining close relationships
Social Anxiety Disorder: Common
Avoidant Personality Disorder: Core
Explanation: Social anxiety can make relationships harder because interaction feels stressful, while avoidant personality disorder more often affects the ability to sustain closeness over time.
Feeling constantly anxious or on edge
Social Anxiety Disorder: Common
Avoidant Personality Disorder: Core
Explanation: Social anxiety is more likely to intensify around social or performance situations, while avoidant personality disorder is more likely to feel like a persistent background state.
Panic attacks
Social Anxiety Disorder: Common
Avoidant Personality Disorder: Associated
Explanation: Panic attacks are more characteristic of social anxiety, especially around feared social situations, while they are less central in avoidant personality disorder.
Heart racing or pounding
Social Anxiety Disorder: Core
Avoidant Personality Disorder: Common
Explanation: Social anxiety more strongly features noticeable physical surges during feared social moments, while avoidant personality disorder may include anxiety symptoms without them being as defining.

Key Similarities

Symptom How it is similar
Avoiding situations or responsibilities Both can involve avoiding situations that feel exposing, risky, or likely to lead to criticism or rejection.
Withdrawing from people Both can lead someone to pull away socially, even when they may still want connection.
Social anxiety Both commonly involve strong anxiety in social situations, which can make them look very similar from the outside.
Fear of rejection Both can involve a persistent fear that others will reject, dislike, or exclude them.
Fear of criticism Both strongly involve fear of being criticized, which can shape avoidance, self-monitoring, and people pleasing.

Most often taken Self-Assessments

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