What Is Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety is an extreme apprehension about social situations, in which the person anticipates being negatively evaluated or examined by others. The fear of criticism or scrutiny can be most severe when meeting strangers or in situations where evaluation from others is likely, such as giving a presentation or going on a romantic date. Consequently, many sufferers will actively avoid situations where evaluation from others is expected. A person experiencing significant social anxiety can hold fears of dreaded events occurring in social situations, such as having nothing to say in conversation, fainting, nausea or blushing. When confronted with feared social encounters, an individual with social anxiety is likely to worry extensively before the event and may completely avoid the situation.
Common Symptoms of social anxiety include:
-
Fear of situations where you may be judged
-
Worrying about embarrassing yourself
-
Intense fear of meeting or interacting with stressors
-
Fear that others will notice you look anxious
-
Avoiding situations where you might be the centre of attention
-
Expecting the worst possible outcome in any social situation
Our Expertise Working With Social Anxiety
Social Anxiety can be an extremely uncomfortable and debilitating condition, which can be helpfully managed by meeting with one of our experienced clinicians. We can help you learn how to manage your symptoms through various types of treatments and techniques. Please read our team bios or contact our admin team to discuss your needs and the best match for you.
As with most things that impact our lives strongly, the best approach is to seek out help sooner rather than later. No matter how long you’ve been experiencing these symptoms, it is never too late to start taking your life back. If any of the above sounds familiar, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to set up an appointment.