Scopophobia is an excessive fear of being stared at. While it is not unusual to feel anxious or uncomfortable in situations where you’re likely to be the center of attention — like performing or speaking publicly — scopophobia is more severe. It can feel as though you’re being scrutinized.

Like other phobias, the fear is out of proportion to the risk involved. In fact, the anxiety can become so intense that it can keep you from functioning in social situations, including school and work.

# Related Anxiety Disorders.
Most of the time, people who have scopophobia also experience other kinds of social anxiety. Scopophobia has been linked to social anxiety disorder (SAD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Doctors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source note that some people with neurological conditions like Tourette’s syndrome and epilepsy may also develop social phobias, possibly because the symptoms of these conditions may occasionally attract attention.

Social phobias can also develop as a result of a traumatic event, such as bullying or an accident that changes your appearance.

# Symptoms.
Scopophobia symptoms vary in intensity from person to person. If you suddenly experience an episode of scopophobia, you may develop any of the symptoms associated with anxiety, including:
▪️excessive worry
▪️blushing
▪️racing heartbeat
▪️sweating or shaking
▪️dry mouth
▪️difficulty concentrating
▪️restlessness
▪️panic attacks