Of the several symptoms commonly found in SAD, the most important symptom is excessive anxiety and worry about being evaluated by other people in a critical way. These fears may relate to a few situations such as public speaking, or can extend to most circumstances where the person could be observed. The latter is referred to as Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder. The two forms of the disorder are also referred to as Social Phobia.

In addition to anxiety and worry, people suffering from SAD experience at least three of the following six symptoms:

• Restlessness or feeling "keyed up" or "on edge".
• Fatigue or feeling rundown.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Irritability.
• Muscle tension.
• Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep or unsatisfying sleep).