Get Help Overcoming Your Phobia

Phobias and Social Anxiety

Social Anxiety

Social anxiety is a continuous and intense fear of being judged negatively by others in various social situations. It typically involves interactions with others in academic, professional, and interpersonal settings. It includes anxiety-provoking thoughts, beliefs, and worries about embarrassment and rejection. Having social anxiety affects all areas of functioning and can range in severity from mildly interfering to debilitating. Social anxiety typically begins in adolescence and the prevalence rates range from 7-13% of the population.

Activities such as ordering in a restaurant, participating in class, doing a presentation, eating in front of people, using a public bathroom, or meeting new people can trigger significant anxiety. Although some people may be able to engage in some social activities with distress, others may find themselves avoiding altogether. Maladaptive thinking and core beliefs remain entrenched without intervention, resulting in further impairment and diminished life satisfaction.

Fears of judgment, rejection, or embarrassment can be overwhelming. The escape and avoidance tendencies in social anxiety further reinforce the symptoms.

Symptoms include:

• Intense distress preceding or being in social situations. This fear is disproportionate to the actual threat of the situation.

• Physiological sensations such as increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Over time, the person becomes fearful of the physical sensations themselves and develops anticipatory anxiety.

• Difficulty making eye contact.

• Feeling embarrassed, awkward, or excessively self-conscious.

• Thinking your mind will go blank and you will have nothing to say.

• Avoiding places and situations that cause distress.

• Reviewing or rehearsing social situations to determine if anything socially embarrassing happened or to be better “prepared” for situations.

• Being hyper-vigilant or overly aware of how others might perceive you.

Causes of social anxiety

Similar to other anxiety disorders, the causes of social anxiety are the interactive effects of genetic predisposition, environmental and learning factors, as well as brain structure. Certain areas of the brain may be involved in perception and sensitivity to fear and anxiety, resulting in
a predisposition to social distress.

Social anxiety treatment

CBT interventions have been demonstrated to be effective in addressing symptoms of social anxiety. Learning to think more adaptively, behave effectively and manage one’s distress can help to significantly reduce symptoms of social anxiety and improve functionality as well as quality of life. Exposure therapy within the CBT formulation can help one face one’s fears in a gradual and systematic manner, reducing escape and avoidance behaviors often associated with anxiety in social situations. It can also support one in practicing the skills necessary to test out assumptions about the what-ifs or worst-case scenario thinking when in social interactions. When necessary, a therapist with expertise in this modality can assist one in leaning and practicing specific social skills.

Therapists trained in the CBT model, guide individuals in identifying and replacing unhelpful thoughts related to social interactions. In addition, mindfulness practice offers a set of tools for formulating a different relationship to one’s thoughts and emotional experience. With this altered perspective, individuals notice a decrease in anxiety and discomfort. They are free to pursue goals aligned with their interests and values. CBT is one of the most researched and effective therapies available for the treatment of social anxiety. Other advantages include its short-term duration and long-term effectiveness.

Specific Phobia

A phobia is an unrealistic and persistent fear of an object, situation or activity that is not actually dangerous. Examples can include fears of animals, flying, crowded places, bridges and heights.

Individuals typically recognize that their fears are exaggerated but have difficulty managing the worries and the sensations associated with their fear. In some instances, avoiding certain objects and activities does not cause significant interference. Seeking treatment from a therapist trained in CBT can provide much benefit.

Common phobias include agoraphobia or fear of places and situations that one cannot escape, acrophobia or fear of heights, and claustrophobia of fear of enclosed spaces. Fears of flying and public speaking are also common. There are countless other fears, many of which can be addressed very effectively by a psychologist who specializes in anxiety treatment.

Causes of phobias

Genetic and environmental factors are usually considered precursors to the development of phobias.

Symptoms of phobia:

• Increased heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Upset stomach/nausea
• Trembling/shaking
• Tightness in the chest
• Dizziness/ lightheadedness
• Sweating
• A sense of dread
• Avoidance of feared object or situation

Treatment of specific phobia

When symptoms of specific phobia emerge and interfere in a significant way, CBT therapy can be very effective. Gradual and systematic exposure to the feared stimuli can lead to rapid results. Changing dysfunctional beliefs and catastrophic assumptions are techniques that are highly effective elements of CBT therapy. In addition, changing one’s perceptions of risk and danger develops a novel way of looking at situations. Additionally, learning relaxation and meditation strategies can help one cope more effectively in distressing situations.

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