Social anxiety is the third most common mental health disorder in the U.S. (just after depression and alcoholism). Social anxiety is the extreme fear of being judged in social situations, such as talking to strangers, speaking in groups, giving a presentation, performing on stage, or just talking to coworkers or classmates. A person with social anxiety is often self-conscious and nervous, believing that others are silently judging or criticizing them, or are watching very closely for mistakes. The person is afraid he (or she) will make a mistake, look bad, or be humiliated in front of others. Social anxiety is not just shyness.
Both introverts and extroverts can have social anxiety. Many people with social anxiety appear to be functioning just fine. They go to school or to work, and are able to hide some of their feelings. Meantime, the person experiences enormous stress trying to manage these feelings throughout the day. The exhaustion from trying to cope can trigger additional mental health problems such as depression or substance abuse, panic attacks, physical health problems, and more.
Sometimes people with social anxiety are not aware of the problem. They just know they feel stressed a lot and don’t enjoy being around others very much. They often blame others for problems in the relationship. Meantime, other people may think they are not friendly, aloof, or difficult. Such confusion also happens with other types of social problems, so an accurate diagnosis from a mental health professional is important.
Each individual with Social Anxiety has a unique pattern of situations that are difficult. The triggers vary from one person to another, but usually involve avoidance of situations and/or difficulty performing.
Treatment progresses at your own pace. Cognitive-Behavior Therapy is practical and results-oriented. You will learn skills during sessions and apply them through homework and practice between sessions to help you achieve the goals that you have chosen for yourself. Social Anxiety Disorder
Severe anxiety (any type) can create social problems because the time and energy needed to cope with the anxiety reduces the chance to socialize. Sometimes embarrassment exists because the anxiety problem occurred in front of others. Some problems related to OCD also are directly related to socializing, such as fear of germs.
OCD is often accompanied by other anxieties, including panic attacks. For more information about OCD, click here. Treatment for OCD in most cases will include Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). This is a type of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and is the type of treatment shown through research to be the most effective for treating OCD. Some individuals also take medication for OCD. For information about medication, click here. Treatment may also include other forms of CBT and/or family therapy. Family members often have an important role in the treatment, especially with a child or adolescent.
Other types of problems can be related to OCD. Examples include
Treatment for these disorders will be based on a careful history and other evaluation of your symptoms. Some related disorders respond well to a type of behavior therapy called Habit Reversal and/or Skills Training.
In therapy, your counselor can help determine the type of anxiety you have, and which type of treatment or a combination of therapies are most likely to be effective.
When one person is struggling, everyone in the family is affected. My goal is to help parents regain a sense of balance and peace at home, and to help children, teens and young adults grow and flourish. I have a passion for working with individuals by building on their strengths. I offer individual, group and family counseling, and help for parents. I have extensive experience with children and adolescents.
Therapy offers a path to greater self-awareness, emotional balance, and resilience.
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