Do you experience nervousness or intense anxiety when faced with social situations?
Do you fear being judged or criticized by others?
Are you always worried about making mistakes, looking bad or being embarrassed in front of others?
Are you terrified you might incur disapproval or rejection because you fear you might make a faux-pas or mistake in a social situation?
Do you avoid attending social gatherings or events, even when you’d really like to go, because you are anxious and self-conscious being around other people, fearing their scrutiny, judgment or disapproval?
If you answered yes to any of the above, you may have Social Anxiety Disorder. While it is normal to feel nervous in some social situations, people who experience daily social anxiety tend to avoid everyday interactions that cause them significant fear, anxiety, self-consciousness, and embarrassment because they fear being scrutinized or judged by others.
People with Social Anxiety Disorder often experience significant distress in the following situations:
- Being teased or criticized
- Being the center of attention
- Being watched or observed while completing a task
- Having to say something in a formal, public setting
- Meeting people in authority, such as important people or authority figures
- Feeling insecure and out of place in social situations
- Embarrassing easily
- Meeting other people’s eyes
Social Anxiety Disorder is a chronic mental health condition. Learning coping skills in therapy sessions can help you gain the confidence you need to reduce anxiety or discomfort in social situations and improve your ability to interact with others. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, has been shown to be very effective in treating Social Anxiety Disorder.
If you feel you may have Social Anxiety Disorder, I encourage you to contact me today for a free consultation.