Social Anxiety Disorder: Understanding Symptoms & Treatment

Living with social anxiety disorder can feel isolating and overwhelming. But effective treatment options are available to help you overcome your symptoms and lead a fulfilling life. In this blog post, we’ll explore what social anxiety is, common symptoms, available treatment options, and the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for social anxiety.

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

It’s a common mental health condition characterised by intense fear in social situations. People with social anxiety often experience excessive worry about being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated in front of others. And this leads to avoidance of social interactions, or significant distress when faced with social situations.

There’s a tendency to worry before and after social situations too, not just during them. And when you are there, you might experience lots of physical symptoms of anxiety such as sweating or blushing, and worry that other people will notice these symptoms.

Signs of Social Anxiety

Have you ever found yourself wondering ‘do I have social anxiety?’. Here are the most common symptoms of social anxiety I see in my clients:

• Worrying before and during social situations –  about whether you might do something humiliating or embarrassing.
• Feeling self-conscious during social interactions, i.e. having a conversation, meeting unfamiliar people, being observed, or performing in front of others.
• Experiencing a range of physical symptoms during social situations, such as trembling, shaking, sweating, blushing, heart racing, and feeling nauseous.
• Often avoiding social situations when possible (i.e. turning down an invite to a party), or enduring them with intense fear.
• Ruminating after being in a social situation by playing the scenario over in your head and analysing it, often cringing at what you said.

Social Anxiety Treatment

Fortunately, there are several effective treatments available. These include:

1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: CBT is considered the gold standard treatment for social anxiety disorder. It involves identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and beliefs related to social situations. And teaching coping strategies to manage anxiety and improve confidence.
2. Medication: Antidepressant medications, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may be prescribed to help alleviate symptoms of social anxiety disorder. These medications can help reduce the intensity of anxiety symptoms, and may be used in conjunction with therapy for optimal results.

How to Overcome Social Anxiety with CBT

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has been shown to be highly effective in treating social anxiety disorder. Research indicates significant reductions in symptoms and improvements in overall functioning. By targeting the underlying thoughts and behaviours that maintain the problem, CBT helps you develop healthier coping mechanisms and strategies for managing social situations.

Key components of CBT for social anxiety includes:

• Psycho-education: Learning about the nature of the problem, its causes, and treatment options.
• Formulation: Understanding how your social anxieties developed, how it presents itself, and what maintains it.
• CBT Tools: Designed to reduce your symptoms of anxiety and build up your confidence by working on managing any negative beliefs you hold about yourself and any unhelpful behaviours.
• Relapse Prevention: Putting together a plan at the end of therapy to help you continue progressing towards your goals and to minimise any setbacks.

The Power of CBT for Social Anxiety

Social anxiety disorder can significantly impact your quality of life. But effective treatments such as CBT offer hope and relief for those affected by this condition. By understanding the disorder better, recognising common symptoms, and seeking appropriate treatment, people can take positive steps toward managing their symptoms and reclaiming their lives.

Here are some of the therapy benefits my socially anxious clients find most powerful:

• Reducing unpleasant physical symptoms when in social situations
• Feeling more confident and less self-conscious when interacting with others
• Being able to tackle things you previously avoiding like meeting new or parties
• Stopping rumination afterwards about how you came across and what you said
• Learning how to focus in the present moment instead of on how anxious you’re feeling
• Challenging negative thinking and develop more positive beliefs about yourself

If you or someone you know is struggling with social anxieties, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. A qualified therapist can provide support, guidance, and evidence-based treatments to help you overcome social anxieties and thrive in social settings. With the right help and support, it is possible to break free from the constraints of social anxiety and live a life filled with confidence and connection.

Find Out More

I specialise in working with perfectionists. Perfectionism and being socially anxious often goes hand in hand. They share common underlying themes of fear of judgement, criticism and failure. As a result I have lots of experience in helping clients successfully overcome their social anxieties. If you’re looking for a BABCP Accredited Senior CBT Therapist, you can book an appointment here.

Useful Links

• What CBT is and How it Actually Works
• Subscribe to The Diary of a Perfectionist