2 mins
What is social anxiety?
What is social anxiety?
Social anxiety is one of the most common anxiety disorders. If you’re suffering from social anxiety, you’re likely to experience an overwhelming fear of social situations. This may lead you to feel extremely anxious in the lead up to a social event, overthink “embarrassing” things you said or did following it – or in extreme cases, it may lead you to avoid socialising altogether. Worries tend to be around doing something that is humiliating, sweating, blushing or feeling inadequate in some way.
Symptoms of social anxiety
- Dreading everyday activities such as meetings, talking in groups, speaking on the phone etc
- Low self-esteem
- Fear of being criticised
- Avoiding eye contact
- Misuse of drugs or alcohol to manage social anxiety
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Treatment for social anxiety
Therapy can help you understand both the origins of your anxiety and also how to overcome it. In some instances, people can also benefit from medication to help them manage their symptoms.
Following your initial assessment, we will advise whether we believe it would be helpful to meet with our Consultant Psychiatrist to consider if medication would be of help.
Frequently asked questions
When should I get help for social anxiety?
You should seek help for social anxiety if you are finding that it is interfering in the way you live your life. You might be struggling in social situations – being very quiet and finding it difficult to engage in conversations, for example. Or you may find yourself drinking heavily to overcome your nerves or perhaps even avoiding social situations altogether for fear of doing or saying the wrong thing. These are all good reasons to seek support.
What are the most effective treatments for social anxiety?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) are all effective treatments for social anxiety.
Do I need to take medication if I’m struggling with social anxiety?
As an anxiety disorder, the most effective treatment for social anxiety is therapy. Medication can moderate your levels of anxiety in the short-term, but in the longer term, a course of psychological therapy will help you get to the bottom of your difficulties and develop coping strategies so that you don’t require medication.
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