Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is the intense emotions around social situations of all kinds. As such, they will create additional issues that can make the situation even more difficult.
Social Anxiety treatment that works
The intense emotions of social anxiety include fearful anticipation of embarrassment and humiliation. Then, there are the attendant physical manifestations. These include sweating, blushing and stammering and classic panic attack symptoms. They serve to exaggerate the self-consciousness around all or most social situations.
Social anxiety is often fuelled by fears of being judged and found wanting.
And that it is much better therefore not to engage but to hideaway. Of course, these powerful anxiety feelings will often be prompted by trauma and perceived social failures in the past (often in childhood). But what to do when the trauma has been relieved yet there are still habitual fears that it would be better to avoid the risk of being judged and found wanting?
The answer then maybe is to realise that most social interactions are not prompted by the natural instinct to judge others but by the more profound need we all have to give and receive attention.
So for those of you still reluctant to engage even after the trauma has been cleared, begin to see social interaction and opportunities (such as at parties or gatherings) , not as situations to be feared but as opportunities for your natural need for attention exchange to be met – as a hungry person might fall ravenously on a table full to groaning with good food.
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Treating the consequences of Social Anxiety
De-traumatising using Rewind.
This will be important as the chances are high that there is trauma lurking somewhere – that seeded the social awkwardness and avoidance. And this seed is often to be found in early life – in bullying at school or loneliness as a teenager or failing to relate properly at college.
Building a better relationship with social anxiety
Important if extreme self-consciousness is the core of social anxiety. There has to be a shift from a fear of crowds and social situations to a friendlier prompting to behave more naturally. However, as a general rule, my experience is that the anxiety in social situations typically requires something a little more.
Reframing, relaxation and visualisations tools
7/11 breathing are always worth teaching to assist in gaining control and confidence. Rehearsal work under trance is though more important.
Action to get needs met
This is often the most useful entry point for therapy to overcome this anxiety as needs in the area of human connection will be seriously deficient, if not around work and security also. And by highlighting this, then motivation is built as well as the capacity to see their problems differently.
Remember the puppy – and how social anxiety can just spread and spread from an initial small difficulty to infect much in your life.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) of course will struggle to relieve serious social anxiety – as the main unconscious divers will be left untouched.
Effective help is there for you – that cuts through the anxiety to its core and then heals and rehearses for beneficial change.
