What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by the overwhelming fear of one or more social situations because of perceived negative evaluation by others. Social situations tend to fall into performance situations (public speaking, participating in meetings or classes, using public washrooms) or interpersonal interactions (small talk, dating, expressing opinions, talking on the phone, ordering food, job interview).
Consequences of Social Anxiety Disorder
Individuals with social anxiety may experience and focus on panic symptoms before and during a social situation.
Safety/Unhealthy Coping
Individuals with social anxiety disorder may engage in safety behaviors (e.g., fade into the background, avoid eye contact, ask a lot of questions to avoid talking about oneself), or avoid the social situation altogether.
Social Anxiety in Children
In children, the social anxiety may occur not only during interactions with adults, but also in peer settings. It may be expressed as irritability, crying, temper tantrums, freezing, clinging to familiar people, shrinking, or not speaking in social settings (See Selective Mutism).
How We Can Help
Our therapists will use cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to help the individual learn distress tolerance skills and effective self-talk. For children with social anxiety, our therapists will guide parents to effectively implement an incentive plan and decrease accommodating behaviors in order to motivate their child to use their coping skills. Most importantly, exposure therapy and other interventions are used to help the individual gradually practice confronting social situations without avoidance or employing unhelpful safety behaviors as described above. Exposure practice and elimination of safety behaviors serve to help the individual change his/her beliefs about his/her ability to function in public, be the center of attention, interact with others, perform in front of others, display anxiety reactions, engage in conflict, and appear foolish in front of others. Specific skills related to making requests, saying "no", maintaining healthy relationships, and asserting oneself according one's beliefs are practiced based on the patient's needs.
Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by the overwhelming fear of one or more social situations because of perceived negative evaluation by others. Social situations tend to fall into performance situations (public speaking, participating in meetings or classes, using public washrooms) or interpersonal interactions (small talk, dating, expressing opinions, talking on the phone, ordering food, job interview).
Consequences of Social Anxiety Disorder
Individuals with social anxiety may experience and focus on panic symptoms before and during a social situation.
Safety/Unhealthy Coping
Individuals with social anxiety disorder may engage in safety behaviors (e.g., fade into the background, avoid eye contact, ask a lot of questions to avoid talking about oneself), or avoid the social situation altogether.
Social Anxiety in Children
In children, the social anxiety may occur not only during interactions with adults, but also in peer settings. It may be expressed as irritability, crying, temper tantrums, freezing, clinging to familiar people, shrinking, or not speaking in social settings (See Selective Mutism).
How We Can Help
Our therapists will use cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to help the individual learn distress tolerance skills and effective self-talk. For children with social anxiety, our therapists will guide parents to effectively implement an incentive plan and decrease accommodating behaviors in order to motivate their child to use their coping skills. Most importantly, exposure therapy and other interventions are used to help the individual gradually practice confronting social situations without avoidance or employing unhelpful safety behaviors as described above. Exposure practice and elimination of safety behaviors serve to help the individual change his/her beliefs about his/her ability to function in public, be the center of attention, interact with others, perform in front of others, display anxiety reactions, engage in conflict, and appear foolish in front of others. Specific skills related to making requests, saying "no", maintaining healthy relationships, and asserting oneself according one's beliefs are practiced based on the patient's needs.
P H O N E 219.228.7630
F A X 219.228.1083
E M A I L info@anxietybehavioralhealth.com
A D D R E S S 900 Ridge Road, Suite F, Munster, Indiana 46321
F A X 219.228.1083
E M A I L info@anxietybehavioralhealth.com
A D D R E S S 900 Ridge Road, Suite F, Munster, Indiana 46321