Gain Your Control With Social Anxiety Treatment At Bayside Psychotherapy

What Causes Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder typically develops during the teenage years but can happen at any point in life. While the exact causes are unknown, it likely results from a combination of biological and environmental factors. Risk factors include:

• Genetics – having blood relatives with anxiety disorders
• Traumatic social experiences during childhood or adolescence
• Being naturally shy or inhibited
• Having an overprotective or critical caregiver

People with social anxiety disorder often have distorted negative thoughts about themselves, believing they are inadequate, inferior or unlikable. They may fixate on their anxiety symptoms, fearing that others will notice and judge them.

Common Complications Of Social Phobia

Social phobia can lead to depression due to constant anxiety and isolation. Substance abuse may develop as a coping mechanism for social anxiety. Avoiding anxiety-provoking situations can increase isolation and impair relationships.

Academic and career potential suffers due to impaired performance in social settings like classes or meetings. Missed social opportunities lead to disconnection from social supports.

In severe cases, agoraphobia can develop, making it difficult to leave home. Seeking professional help early on can prevent these complications and allow people to overcome social anxiety.

Signs and Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder

People with social anxiety disorder experience intense anxiety in certain social situations because they fear being scrutinised or judged by others. Common situations that trigger anxiety include:

• Meeting new people
• Starting conversations
• Being teased or criticised
• Being the center of attention
• Public speaking
• Eating or drinking in front of others
• Using public restrooms
• Attending parties or other social gatherings

Physical symptoms of anxiety may include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, nausea, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath and lightheadedness. Sufferers may experience anxiety symptoms weeks or months before an anticipated feared situation.

Some people have such high levels of anxiety that they completely avoid many social situations, isolating themselves from others.

Seeking Treatment For Social Anxiety Disorder

There are many effective treatments available to help people with social anxiety disorder manage their symptoms and improve their ability to function in social situations. Cognitive behavioural therapy is one option that can help modify distorted negative thought patterns and develop healthy coping strategies. Gradually exposing patients to feared social situations through exposure therapy in a safe, controlled environment can also help desensitise them to triggers of anxiety.

Social skills training that focuses on building communication and social skills can also be beneficial. Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other antidepressants have been shown to help reduce symptoms of anxiety in many patients. Joining support groups can provide understanding, encouragement and advice from others facing similar challenges with social anxiety disorder.

The approach applied may include one or a combination of Buddhist Psychotherapy, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, NLP, Hypnotherapy and other counselling methods. With regular evaluations to ensure you are progressing well, our therapists will work with you to determine your ideal social balance and introduce strategies to help you attain it. If you’d like to start hypnosis today, you can download our Social Phobia Self Hypnosis recording to listen to at home.

You can meet with one of our practitioners online via secure video conferencing, or in-person at our Highett clinic. Please call us on (03) 9557 9113 or use our contact form to find out if we may be able to help you enjoy your social life again. Your call or email is completely confidential, and there’s absolutely no obligation.