Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder
While it is normal to feel nervous in some social situations, people who experience daily social anxiety experience significant distress in these situation. This can lead to avoiding situations like dating, meeting new people, or even spending time with family and friends. People can also experience social anxiety in performance situations like when they have to speak at school or work meetings.
People with Social Anxiety Disorder often experience significant distress in the following situations:
Being teased or criticized
Being the center of attention
Being watched or observed while completing a task
Having to say something in a formal, public setting
Meeting people in authority, such as important people or authority figures
Feeling insecure and out of place in social situations
Embarrassing easily
Meeting other people’s eyes
In cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for social anxiety you learn coping skills that help you gain the confidence interacting with others. You also learn how to recognize negative thoughts and maladaptive coping behaviors that have been feeding your anxiety. When you feel ready, your psychologist will help you confront the situations that you are afraid of, so that you are less limited by your anxiety.