Social anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems, affecting 15 million Americans in any given year. Social anxiety is characterized by a persistent and intense fear of being judged by others and of being embarrassed by one’s own actions. For example, some people might feel self-conscious walking around in public, anxious that others might be staring or scrutinizing them, or others might feel shy at work or school and have great difficulty voicing their opinion. Social anxiety is often accompanied by physical symptoms, such as blushing, sweating, stammering, and “freezing”. One thing that socially anxious people share is the knowledge that their fears aren’t completely rational. That is, they know that others aren’t really scrutinizing or trying to embarrass them all the time. Yet despite this rational knowledge, the feelings and anxious thoughts persist and have a real impact on everyday life.
Therapy for social anxiety
It is these automatic feelings and thoughts that are addressed and overcome in CBT. In addition, CBT for social anxiety teaches you how to push yourself a little outside your comfort or safety zone, so that you can let go of some of your feared assumptions and pursue the goals that are meaningful to you. These might be a wide range of goals, such as dating, asserting yourself, meeting new people, going after a promotion, or feeling more comfortable in public.
If you are interested in finding out more about Dr. Jocelyn Sze’s social anxiety therapy services in San Francisco, please click here to schedule an appointment or free phone consultation.