Psychologist John Jakupi, of Berwick Counselling and Psychology, said social anxiety disorder was the most common phobia of all.

He said people who are socially anxious will avoid mixing with people, shopping malls, or avoid any physical contact.

"This is the hallmark of anxiety - to avoid anything unpleasant, including the counselling."

Mr Jakupi said other phobic conditions such as agoraphobia, the fear of public spaces, were all part of the same spectrum.

He said the anxious condition could be inherited through a genetic disposition.

"Sufferers are usually timid in public. It's not unusual [for sufferers] to come from dysfunctional families, or rather parents who were overprotective and negative.

"A child who grows up fearful of rejection can grow into a character that would ensure they avoid any possibility of discomfort."

Mr Jakupi said one way of overcoming a phobia or disorder, including social anxiety, was to make the sufferer face their fear.

"We use exposure therapy - to face the fear until we overcome it."

He said personality disorders were sometimes more difficult to deal with but very few people get help unless the phobia impacts on their lives.

"These people tend to build their lives around the fear. People are very good at this, making excuses not to face their fear.

"It's tempting to say face your fear, if you can recognise it that would help, but a lot of people self medicate, usually with alcohol.

"They'll usually reinforce the need to have a few drinks before they go shopping, face a meeting, or the party. They'd rather go there drunk, so they never get to prove that they cannot face that phobia."

The Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria's anxiety support group meets from 7.30-9.30pm every Tuesday at the Berwick Neighbourhood Centre.

Click here for further details on anxiety disorders.