Social Anxiety Therapy
Do people say to you, “Why are you so quiet?” “You just need to step outside of your comfort zone.” “Just relax and be yourself.” “You should go out more and meet new people.” “You should try to be more outgoing.”? If you have social anxiety, it is likely that you have heard one or more of these statements before.
Social Anxiety Disorder, simply referred to as SAD or social phobia, is a mental health condition that triggers fear and anxiety within you when you are around other people in social situations. Your social fear leaves you feeling judged constantly with a fear of being watched by others. Luckily, with the help of a social anxiety therapist at Anchor Therapy, you can feel like your best self again!
Understanding Social Anxiety
In some social situations, it is completely normal to feel nervous. We all know that feeling when you are uncomfortable in a social situation. Some social situations are not thrilling for everyone, but most people can work through that discomfort.
For example, perhaps you are a teen who is stepping foot on your college campus for the first time for orientation. You are excited about the journey ahead, but anxious about the day’s activities, meeting people, and exploring your new home. There are a lot of changes going on- after all, it is a major life transition.
Similarly, as an adult, giving a presentation at work can trigger that feeling of butterflies in your stomach. Maybe your palms start to sweat, your mouth goes dry, and so on. The presentation is a big deal and there is a lot on the line- it is understandable.
However, when you have social anxiety disorder, simple daily interactions can create large anxiety spikes, leaving you feeling self-conscious and embarrassed. You fear being scrutinized or judged by other people, even complete strangers.
Believe it or not, social anxiety is a very common anxiety disorder. According to Mental Health America, 15 million American adults have Social Anxiety disorder. This is equivalent to 7 percent of American adults.
If you have Social Anxiety Disorder, anxiety and fear is present in most social situations, including the following scenarios:
Public speaking
Performing in front of people
Taking or making phone calls
Meeting new people
Answering a question in front of other people
Eating in front of people
Participating in an interview
Asking for help in a restaurant or store
Using public restrooms
Any activity where you are the center of attention
Some key anxieties of social phobia is being:
Judged
Rejected
And/or humiliated
Unfortunately, if social anxiety is not treated, it can lead to avoidant tendencies that impact the quality of your day-to-day life. The serious stress you experience from social situations can negatively impact your relationships, schoolwork, professional life, daily routines, and other activities.
Exploring the Variations of Social Anxiety Disorder
There are three different types of social anxiety.
The three levels of social anxiety are:
Mild Social Anxiety - Although you are experiencing physical and psychological symptoms, you are still socially active. It is also possible that, if you have mild social anxiety, you only experience symptoms in specific social occurrences.
Moderate Social Anxiety - Moderate social anxiety may cause you to participate in certain social occurrences while avoiding other anxiety-inducing environments.
Extreme Social Anxiety - Extreme social anxiety triggers intense anxiety symptoms, such as panic attacks, in social occurrences. Because of this extreme reaction, people with extreme social anxiety avoid social settings altogether. All or majority of social situations likely trigger anxiety symptoms.
When it comes to a nerve-wracking social situation, it is normal to experience anticipatory anxiety. Throughout your life, you may have different forms of social anxiety. For instance, as a teen girl who is uncomfortable with your sexuality, you may be more reserved. In this example, you come to terms with your true self and reveal your identity as a lesbian, you may no longer be afraid to express your opinions.
Regardless of your type of anxiety, if it is negatively impacting your life, you should seek professional anxiety treatment support.
Understanding the Symptoms of Social Anxiety
Especially for children, shyness or discomfort in specific social situations does not necessarily signal the existence of a social phobia. Certain personality traits and life experiences dictate comfort levels in social occurrences. Someone may identify as an extrovert, a sociable person who gains energy through social interaction(s). On the other hand, you may be an introvert, a reserved person who feels drained after social interaction(s).
Unlike common nervousness, social anxiety includes fear, anxiety, and avoidance. Social anxiety typically forms in teenhood, but it can also manifest in young children and adults.
Emotional Symptoms of Social Anxiety Include:
Always seeking reassurance or validation from other people about your performance in social situations
Fear of being the center of attention
Excessive worry about embarrassing yourself or being judged
Intense fear or anxiety before or while you are in social situations
Feeling self-conscious in social settings
Feeling inadequate or inferior in context to social situations
Avoiding social situations where you have to talk to new people
Hard time making eye contact or sharing your opinion(s) in a group
Overthinking past social occurrences
Behavioral Symptoms of Social Anxiety Include:
Feeling isolated due to having a small social circle and/or avoidance behaviors
Having a hard time saying “no” or expressing your opinions due to a fear of rejection
Avoiding social gatherings, parties, or other events where you may be the star of the show and/or have to interact with other people
Fidgeting or displaying nervous habits during social interactions
Using alcohol or drugs to cope with your social anxiety
Speaking softly or having a shaky voice in social interactions due to nervousness
Hard time initiating or maintaining discussions
Apologizing excessively or over-explaining yourself
Physical Symptoms of Social Anxiety Include:
Dizziness or lightheadedness when you are in a crowded or unfamiliar social setting
Muscle tension due to high anxiety levels
Hard time sleeping before or after a social event
Rapid heartbeat in a social environment
Sweating or shaking when interacting with other people or speaking in public
Feeling like you cannot catch your breath in social situations
Blushing of the face when talking to people
Social anxiety symptoms look slightly different for children. If a child is anxious about interacting with an adult or their peers, it may manifest as throwing temper tantrums, crying, clinging to parents, and refusing to speak in social spaces.
There is also a type of social anxiety called performance anxiety. For example, you may have anxiety over giving a speech but you do not experience social anxiety in other general social situations, like starting a conversation with a new person.
It is important to remember that social anxiety symptoms can transform over time. If you are in the midst of many life transitions, stresses, or other demands in your life, your social anxiety may flare up.
For instance, you may have started off with losing sleep before social engagements and, now, you are avoiding social interactions altogether. While avoidance feels good now, your anxiety will only continue if you do not face it.
What Causes Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety is complex like all mental health conditions. From biological factors to environmental elements, there are complex reasons as to why social phobia arises.
Here are some possible causes of social anxiety:
Brain structure - Your amygdala, a structure in your temporal lobe, is responsible for dictating your fear response. If your amygdala is overactive, your fear response may be elevated which causes social anxiety in social situations.
Inherited traits - Oftentimes, anxiety disorders run in families. With that being said, the research is not 100% clear on the role of genetics versus learned behavior.
Environment - Going along the lines of learned behavior, you may develop social anxiety after an embarrassing or uncomfortable social interaction. Also, if you had a parent with social anxiety, you may learn to model that social anxiety.
There are a few factors that can enhance your risk of developing social anxiety, such as:
Negative experiences - If you were bullied or teased (especially as a child), you may experience social anxiety more. Other negative experiences (e.g., family conflict, trauma, addiction or substance abuse, etc.), can be exhibited alongside social anxiety.
New demands at work or in your personal life - Although social anxiety typically forms as a teen, there are certain situations that can trigger social anxiety- think of moving to a new city and having to meet new people or running a new division at work.
Temperament - If you are shy or withdrawn in new social situations, you may be at a greater risk of social anxiety. With that being said, just because someone is reserved, it does not mean that they are socially anxious.
Family history - If your parent(s) or siblings have social anxiety, you are more likely to develop it as well.
Having a physical appearance that draws attention to you - Certain things, such as having a visible disability, can make you feel self-conscious which can trigger social anxiety within you.
What Happens If I Do Not Seek Social Anxiety Therapy?
If you are able to manage your social anxiety on your own, working with an anxiety therapist may not be necessary. However, if your social anxiety is interfering with your ability to live your daily life and you are not able to find relief on your own, seeking help from a professional social anxiety counselor at Anchor Therapy is advised.
If you leave your social anxiety untreated, you may find that it begins to run your life instead of you running or managing it. Anxiety may interfere with your relationships, work performance, school performance, and general happiness.
Complications of untreated social anxiety encompass the following:
Low self-esteem
Poor academic performance
Low employment achievement
Difficulty being assertive with other people
Negative self-talk
Poor social skills
Being hypersensitive to criticism
Feeling isolated
Risk of depression
Physical health problems (e.g., insomnia, headaches, and so on)
Alongside social anxiety, many people also experience substance abuse issues and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
Can Social Anxiety be Treated through Anxiety Counseling?
Luckily, social anxiety is very treatable with the help of a social anxiety specialist. One of the most popular social anxiety treatments is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT.
In CBT for social anxiety, your CBT therapist will work with you so you can alter your thinking and behavioral patterns that may be harmful. By talking through your anxiety with your CBT counselor, you will eventually gain a different perspective on your situation. Therefore, you will learn healthier coping skills and effective strategies to manage your anxiety.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy is a big part of CBT counseling for social anxiety as well. ERP therapy for social anxiety involves systematically introducing you to a triggering social situation in a controlled, supportive manner.
For someone with mild or moderate anxiety, you may start off by just simply starting a conversation with a stranger and, then, work your way up to attending a party or work event/convention by yourself. The idea behind ERP for social anxiety is that repeated exposure will lessen the power of your feared situations. It provides you with more opportunities to manage your anxiety, learning what coping skills work for you and what does not.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, or MBCT, can help you gain present moment awareness and even acceptance of your anxiety. Mindfulness practices, like meditation or deep breathing, allow you to observe your anxious thoughts and separate them from yourself. Just because you are thinking it, does not make it true. You can just observe your thoughts with zero judgment attached.
Here are some reasons as to why you may want to attend therapy for social anxiety near you:
Understanding your social anxiety
Creating awareness
Learning skills to manage your social anxiety
Exposing and desensitizing yourself to triggering social situations
Figuring out what coping mechanisms are successful for you
Challenging safety behaviors like avoiding eye contact for example
Enhancing your self-esteem
Applying learned therapy lessons to your real life
Receiving support and validation
Preventing further complications (e.g., depression, substance abuse, etc.)
Ensuring long-term success
There are many benefits of attending social anxiety counseling if you are struggling. At Anchor Therapy, our social anxiety therapists tailor their therapeutic skills to address the specific challenges that you are facing due to social anxiety.
Here are some benefits of working with a social anxiety counselor:
How Can I Start social anxiety counseling at Anchor Therapy?
WORKING WITH US IS EASY
Fill out the contact form below.
An Intake Coordinator will respond to your inquiry, and match you with a social anxiety therapist on our team who understands your needs.
Feel confident as you take a step towards greater self-acceptance and a healthier self-esteem.
