What is Social Anxiety? Social Anxiety Treatment

What Is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety is a fear that causes significant anxiety and avoidance of people or particular situations. Social anxiety can become so overwhelming that they interrupt your life. People with social anxiety (approximately 10% of the population) usually realize that their fears are ‘irrational’ but still cannot control them. Even simply thinking about socializing can create anxiety. Understandably, this can seriously impede your lifestyle and create inconveniences for those you love. Help Is Available.

Understanding Social Anxiety is the first step to overcoming it, and it is important to know that it is highly treatable. Studies have shown that treatments can reduce your anxiety, and you can overcome your fears, no matter how out of control they feel. You can learn strategies in therapy to help you take away your social anxiety and start living a fuller life.

Social Phobia

Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is a fear of social situations where you expect to feel embarrassed or judged. This phobia is very common: more than one out of eight people have social phobia at some point in their life. If you have social phobia, you may feel excessively self-conscious and/or afraid of humiliating yourself in front of others. Your anxiety over how you will look and what others will think may lead you to avoid certain social situations you’d otherwise enjoy. Fear of public speaking is a type of social phobia. Others include fear of eating or drinking in public, talking to strangers, taking exams, mingling at a party, or being called on in a classroom.

Social Anxiety vs. Social Phobia

While social phobia is a social anxiety disorder, there is a difference between social anxiety and social phobia. Social anxiety disorder is a broad diagnostic umbrella. Social anxiety focuses on the fear and anxiety people experience before and during direct social interactions, like having a conversation with a stranger. It covers a broad span of fear of social situations.

Social phobia, on the other hand, is more specific. It covers the insecurities and fears felt before, during, and after doing performative actions in public, like public speaking, eating in public, and more.

Knowing the distinction between social anxiety and social phobia can help you receive treatment focusing on your main concerns.

Signs of Social Anxiety

Social anxiety looks different for everyone. It can occur chronically or during stressful situations. If you have social anxiety, you may feel:

The need to avoid eye contact.
Extremely self-conscious in social settings.
Intense and persistent fear of being judged by others.
Hesitant to make conversation with others.
Uncomfortable while being watched.
Your “mind going blank.”
The need to avoid places with people.

The extent of your anxious feelings can differ depending on the situation. Some signs of social anxiety may appear subtle, while others are more drastic. When you can feel yourself getting caught up in an anxiety attack or know you’re going to feel anxious attending an event, you can take preventive measures that will help ground and calm you.

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Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Your body can also help you distinguish times of anxiety. Some physical symptoms you could experience with social anxiety include:

Crying.
Rapid heartbeat.
Increased sweating.
Muscle tension.
Stomach issues and diarrhea.
Lightheadedness and dizziness.
An “out-of-body” experience.

You can begin feeling symptoms right before an event or even weeks before while waiting in anticipation for the event. Attending regular social anxiety therapy sessions can help you learn coping techniques for managing your symptoms.

Treatment for Social Anxiety

Greenwich Psychology experts will work with you to determine the best therapeutic approach for you. We will help you recognize negative thoughts and find ways to think more positively. Gradually, you will be able to face the situations you have been afraid of in the past, and in that process, discover that your fears usually do not come true. Specific interpersonal effectiveness skills, relaxation, breathing techniques, and homework are ways our clinicians can help you fight and conquer your social anxiety.

How Long Does It Take to Treat Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety disorder treatment helps patients learn coping skills to manage their social anxiety. The amount of time for patients to receive treatment differs for each person. Patients can undergo treatment for weeks, months, or years depending on their treatment plans and progress. Clinicians work with you to find the most effective solutions and coping skills for your social anxiety.

You’ll have support throughout the entire process to ensure you can manage your social anxiety.

Online Test for Social Anxiety

If you think you have social anxiety, you can take an online social anxiety test to help you find out. Online tests don’t diagnose you, but they are a good starting point when you want to figure out why you’re feeling anxious all the time. Taking a quick online test can also help you track the symptoms you have been experiencing.

Find Social Anxiety Treatment at Greenwich Psychology

When you want to reclaim control over your life, finding social anxiety disorder treatment can help. Your clinician will have you take a social anxiety disorder test to determine the extent of your symptoms. Once you start going to regular sessions, you will develop coping skills to help you manage your social anxiety.

At Greenwich Psychology Group, we ensure patients receive personalized treatment plans to start living a fuller life. We have an elite team of specially trained clinicians and psychologists who can treat each patient’s specific needs. We also understand you lead a busy life. Our clinicians can help the busiest parents and professionals through in-person or virtual sessions.

Greenwich Psychology Group has offices in Greenwich, Connecticut, and New York City, New York. We ensure you receive expert treatment for your social anxiety. Start your therapy journey when you schedule your consultation today. We can accommodate your needs with an in-person or telehealth meeting.

Have questions? Ask our experts.

Take the GPG Symptom Checker

At Greenwich Psychology Group, our symptom checker helps clients track their symptoms of depression or anxiety. Taking the assessment doesn't provide a formal diagnosis, but it can help you determine what next steps you may need to take. The evaluation uses a series of questions to review the feelings and symptoms you've experienced over the past two weeks. The results will help you distinguish if professional help is the best next step.

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