Anxiety & Depression Why the Fear of Embarrassment Can Literally Kill You By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Updated on December 14, 2022 Print Verywell / Julie Bang Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Friday Fix: Episode 160 More About the Podcast Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Friday Fix: Episode 160 Whether you carried on a whole conversation with spinach in your teeth or you slipped and fell in front of a whole room full of people, embarrassing moments are inevitable. Embarrassment is a complex emotion that involves feeling as if you are losing your place in the social hierarchy. It can cause you to cringe and lead to physical symptoms, like blushing and sweating. Although embarrassment feels uncomfortable, it won’t kill you. But, the fear of embarrassment might actually be deadly. Some people fear embarrassment more than others—and it’s likely that they feel embarrassment at a deeper level. The fear of being embarrassed can lead to social anxiety. And in some cases, the fear of embarrassment can lead to some unhealthy choices. Fortunately, there’s help for people who fear being judged or who fear that they’ll experience embarrassment. It’s an issue we frequently address in the therapy office. Rather than avoid embarrassing moments, there’s something really powerful about learning to cope with embarrassing feelings. You might even get to a place where you can empower yourself by sharing your embarrassing stories with others. On today’s episode, I share real-life ways the fear of embarrassment sometimes kills people. And I talk about the steps you can take to conquer your fear. Differences Between Fear and Phobia Responses More About the Podcast The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too. Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors. Thank you. For media or public speaking inquiries, contact Amy here. Download the Transcript Links and Resources Follow Amy Morin on Instagram Check out Amy’s books on mental strength The Spotlight Effect and Social Anxiety If You Liked This Episode You Might Also Like These Episodes: How to Unwind Your Anxiety With Neuroscientist Dr. Jud Brewer Friday Fix: How to Be Mentally Strong When You’re Experiencing Uncomfortable Emotions How to Harness the Power of Anxiety With Neuroscientist Dr. Wendy Suzuki How to Face Your Fears By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.