Social Anxiety Disorder (Diagnostic Code 300.23 in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition – DSM IV) is marked by a persistent fear of social or performance situations in which embarrassment may occur along with an immediate anxiety response often reaching the level of panic.
- Hypersensitivity to criticism
- Negative self evaluation
- Fear of rejection
- Poor assertiveness skills
- Undeveloped social skills
Many people with Social Anxiety cope by avoiding many social situations they would like to attend. Social Anxiety can disrupt normal family relations, work and recreation. Social anxiety, however, is specifically characterized by the onset of anxiety in social situations such as being at work, at the movies, in meetings, at the store…
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) works well with social anxiety because the causative features are psychological, or cognitive, in nature. Negative self evaluation is also a cognitive process, as is fear of rejection. Social skills too can be learned.
Our cognitive process has a tremendous influence on our behaviors. This type of exercise is very effective for overcoming social anxiety in specific settings. This exercise “primes” the mind and cognitive processes which is the foundation for behaviors.
If we can change our thinking towards more realistic interpretations of situations and events…then we can reduce or even eliminate the anxiety and panic.
If you are suffering with social anxiety or social phobia, consider doing a net search on Cognitive Behavior Therapy.
Understanding Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is a major barrier for panic and anxiety sufferers. Certainly, a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, a.k.a. social phobia, according to the DSM-IV-TR, may be appropriate. This article’s focus will be upon social anxiety, my preferred term. You may even have a comorbid diagnosis of panic disorder and social anxiety disorder. It’s interesting to note that one of the dynamics that make social anxiety different from the specific phobias (fear of a specific object or event – elevators, flying, etc.) is the fact that with social anxiety there’s every reason to believe the anticipated social discomfort and humiliation may well occur exactly as anticipated and feared. The foundational issue in social anxiety is fear and avoidance generated by external signals. Given all of your need-to-examine thoughts and feelings regarding your social being, don’t you think you have a lot with which to work regarding the relief of your social anxiety?