I'm so proud of my 40 year old mentally retarded niece who attends gathering, meetings, helping in minor ways, but giving whatever help she can. Not everyone who has panic is social phobic . However, most people who have social anxiety avoid panic by not getting into situations that trigger them. I'm not a medical doctor, so I don't advise to either way. Most of my clients have panic, anxiety and one of the phobias.
People can and do find relief and freedom from anxiety, panic, and phobias.
Certainly, if they re-connect with the same situation, there may seem to be a relapse. However, if they follow a good program, they can have the freedom again. What happens is they will out-irrationalize you every time. You already know who is going to win. That's why undoing the 'Gordian Knot ' of unwanted thoughts, feelings, and beliefs is so important.