In social anxiety, people tend to place too much importance on making a perfect 
impression on others. If they are not guaranteed to be approved of by others, they may 
feel very anxious in social situations or avoid socializing altogether. Perfectionism is 
different from simply having high standards. High standards are often useful because 
they motivate us to work hard and succeed. In the case of perfectionism, however, the 
standards are so high and so inﬂexible that they actually interfere with performance by 
causing a person to overprepare for tasks (for instance, spending hours rehearsing a pre -
sentation), procrastinate (such as putting off preparing for a presentation), or be overly 
critical of his or her own performance.
Depression
Given the impact of social anxiety on a person’s functioning, it is no wonder that 
a substantial number of people with social anxiety disorder also experience depression. 
Severe social anxiety can lead to isolation, loneliness, and deep sadness. Social anxiety 
disorder can prevent a person from living up to his or her potential, which, in turn, can 
lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression. Depression can also increase the severity 
of social anxiety.