Social Anxiety
Treatment
Therapy for Social Anxiety
Are You sick of Social Anxiety getting in your way?
Can you relate to any of these?
- You constantly worry about what others might be thinking of you, and feel sure that it can’t be good
- You avoid social situations at all costs, especially circumstances where you might be judged or watched
- You worry that others might notice your hands shaking or your cheeks turning red when you talk to them
- You avoid eye contact, keep your hands in your pockets, and do whatever else you can to avoid drawing attention to yourself
- Your anxiety keeps you from enjoying what you feel like “should” be fun
Most people can relate to feeling shy or nervous at times, especially in awkward social situations. But if you are experiencing social anxiety, the feelings related to interacting with others (and possibly being judged!) can be more problematic.
If your palms sweat, your heart pounds, or your thoughts race when you interact with others, then you can understand how challenging this can be! Often social anxiety can make your world very small, as you do everything you can to avoid possible embarrassment or rejection.
If you struggle with social anxiety, it's common to have trouble with:
- Making phone calls
- Meeting new people
- Making friends
- Dating
- Asking for help
- Saying “No”
- Going out in public
- Eating or drinking in front of others
- Giving presentations at school or work
- Performing tasks in front of others
Check out the screening tool below if you are wondering if you might have Social Anxiety Disorder (also known as SAD or Social Phobia).
If you struggle with social anxiety, you are not alone. About 6.8% of adults, or 15 million people, suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder in the United States, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.
What Causes Social Anxiety Disorder?
Most anxiety is caused by a combination of two main factors: genetics and environment. What does this mean?
First, you may have inherited a greater likelihood of developing social anxiety from your biological parents. Just like green eyes or brown hair, anxiety is something that can be passed down from one generation to the next. Like other traits, however, just because your parent has a hooked nose or anxiety, that doesn’t mean that you are destined to.
Second, the way that you learned to handle anxiety growing up may have made your anxiety worse over time. For example, if you had a parent or caregiver that worried about everything all the time, then you may have picked up this habit from them. Or if you learned as a child that avoiding certain things helped you to feel better, then this may have solidified your anxiety around those things. Unfortunately, what tends to help us to feel better in the short-term often makes anxiety worse in the long-run!
The good news is that whether you were born with social anxiety or you picked it up along the way, therapy can help you learn how to cope with your anxiety more effectively and stop letting it interfere with your life.
What Does Treatment for Social Anxiety Look Like?
If you are ready to overcome your social anxiety, know that social anxiety is very treatable! Below are the 3 main types of treatment that I use in social anxiety counseling.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helps you break your cycle of anxiety and face your fears in gradual steps.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on breaking unhelpful patterns in your thinking and acting and finding more effective ways of being.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) incorporates mindfulness and acceptance strategies to help you be more present and bring your life more in line with your values.
No matter what your goals are, we would work together to make a plan to help you overcome your social anxiety in manageable steps. Treatment for social anxiety is both effective and can be relatively quick. My goal is to give you the tools you need to start enjoying your life again as quickly as possible.
So What Next?
If you’d like to learn more about social anxiety, you can check out my article “5 Harmful Misconceptions About Social Anxiety Disorder.”
If your anxiety is getting in the way of being able to make friends, find that special someone, go to the grocery store, or fully participate at work or school, then I would love to help you overcome your fears and build the confidence you need to live your best life. If you are ready to stop your social anxiety from holding you back, I encourage you to reach out for help!
Let's talk!
If you’d like to talk about how I could help you with your social anxiety, please feel free to reach out!