Children’s screen time has risen dramatically in recent years and their social media use has skyrocketed along with it. It isn’t uncommon for today’s adolescent to check their social media feeds more than a hundred times over the course of a day. As a result, mental health experts are seeing more and more young people struggling because of all this… Continue reading

Sheila
“But I’m not exaggerating!”
Sheila was as emphatic as she was resolute in her statement from the couch across from me. We started working together a few weeks ago with her primary goal to improve her comfort and engagement in social situations. We had spent considerable time doing a deep dive assessment.
Fear of judgment and… Continue reading

Do you want to dance a little jig of relief when a social engagement you committed to gets canceled at the last minute? Would your ideal vision board feature remote cabins, cozy knitting, and a tranquil life with just you and a cat? Have you ever admitted that parts of the pandemic were you living Your Best Life?
Or am I alone in this? A friend… Continue reading

Feeling stressy? If you are between the ages of 12 and 27 years old, it’s very likely that you are. Dubbed “the anxious generation” and “the loneliest generation,” over 60 percent¹ of Generation Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) report experiencing significant stress and anxiety, including social anxiety. One strength among this group of… Continue reading

What do you see when you look in the mirror? What thoughts pass through your mind? What emotions arise?
The mirror offers your reflection but the experience you have when looking in it reflects your body image (BI), or the personal relationship you have with your own body. Body image involves how you think and feel about your physical self and how you… Continue reading

When your core emotional needs are met in childhood, you grow up with positive life themes such as high self-worth and a belief in your ability to cope. Negative life themes emerge when your core emotional needs are not met earlier in life and these negative themes continue into adulthood. These negative life themes are also called schemas, which… Continue reading

When most people think about social anxiety, they often are worried about being judged negatively by others. Some of the common fears are being seen as boring, weird, incompetent or anxious. These fears make a lot of sense, right? We are social beings and want to be included and liked – we want to belong! If others don’t like us for some… Continue reading

Anxiety is one of the most common difficulties that can rapidly increase during the teen years. Social anxiety disorder, which is characterized by a persistent fear of social situations in which your teen is worried about being judged, scrutinized or embarrassed in front of others, occurs in approximately 9% of adolescents. It is often a challenge that… Continue reading

It’s not a surprise that so many clients seek therapy due to an overwhelming fear of public speaking. After all, it’s statistically one of the greatest fears people face by any measure.
For those with social anxiety, the fear of appearing foolish can make public speaking feel impossible. Physical symptoms can include sweating, rapid heartbeat,… Continue reading

Boundaries are important for us all. They help us to advocate for ourselves, prioritize our well-being and protect our peace. This can be particularly useful when you are dating someone new and getting to know each other. Dating is not just about what your date likes or what they think of you. It is about what you like, if it is a good fit, how you… Continue reading

It can feel strange to think about our brain lying to us, but that is often what happens when we are dealing with social anxiety disorder.
In the throws of social anxiety, our brain takes in information and skews it based on a number of negative assumptions, interpretations, and opinions. Often, this information isn’t accurate. Other times, it is… Continue reading

The holiday season is upon us. With roots in sacred beliefs and cultural traditions, it is historically a very special time of year, and one where families and friends gather together to share the merriment. To mark the season, old songs such as “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” sung by Andy Williams play on the radio, reminding listeners of this… Continue reading

“She is so charming, interesting and friendly, while I come across as so boring and dull.”
“He is so charismatic, funny, and entertaining! Why am I not like him?”
“I was feeling good about myself at the party until the extroverted, friendly John turned up. I suddenly began to feel bad about myself as I found myself comparing myself to John. In fact, I… Continue reading

Initially, it may not seem like social anxiety and eco-anxiety have much in common. One relates to interpersonal interactions and fear of judgment, while the other is tied to environmental concerns and fears about the future of the planet. While they may seem unrelated at first glance, there is an unexpected connection between these two forms of… Continue reading

“Do I sound too gay?”
“What if they think my name is ghetto?”
“They’re going to think I’m some kind of Jesus-freak.”
Fear of negative evaluations or judgments from others is a core feature of social anxiety. Yet, as illustrated in the quotes above, for people with certain social identities, these fears may often be specifically related to worries about… Continue reading