Social anxiety disorder (SAD) can present challenges in developing and maintaining romantic relationships. Though socially anxious people may strongly desire romantic relationships, they may struggle to tolerate the uncomfortable interpersonal realities of dating. In late adolescence, those with SAD report having fewer sexual partners, dating… Continue reading

During the beginning of my daughter’s preschool year, I was hit with an unexpected reality. She entered a school where parents were already connected, friends were already established, and there was no school directory of phone numbers to connect with parents. I needed to foster friendships for my child…the old school way.
I signed up for every field… Continue reading

Ask yourself…
“Is there anything I value or enjoy that others might find weird?”
“Would I stop valuing or enjoying it if others judged me for it?”
As my lifelong friend would say: Marinate on that.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled blog article.
Who Wants to Be Weird?
“Fitting in” is deeply woven into society’s fabric. It’s part of our survival… Continue reading

When I first started therapy, it felt like I could never find the right skills that would help me overcome my anxiety. It always felt like something was missing. It was not until I found a cognitive-behavioral therapist (CBT) who understood that I did not just have social anxiety. There was more. I suffered from trauma, ADHD and autism. Those of us who… Continue reading

Making friends and finding community as an adult is no easy feat. Figuring out what communities you align with and where you will feel accepted takes a lot of trial and error. This can be especially tricky for someone with social anxiety, and even more so for someone who is non-monogamous.
Social anxiety gets in the way of making new friends. Commonly,… Continue reading

In my experience with clients who have social anxiety, one of their primary concerns is the surges of anxiety they experience amid social situations. They often describe how their focus then shifts to the fear of making a “spectacle” of themselves, leading to a strong desire to escape and avoid the perceived “disaster” of being… Continue reading

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is more than just shyness; it’s a persistent fear of being evaluated and judged in social and performance situations. As a result of this fear, social situations are avoided or entered with significant anxiety. Often the fear is that others will notice anxious symptoms and judge negatively as a result. This can lead to… Continue reading

Do you often feel like you don’t fit in? Do you think others see you as an outcast or strange? Do you struggle to form deep and meaningful connections? If so, you may have a social isolation schema. This schema can lead to social anxiety and avoidance along with other problems.
While many of us feel like we don’t fit in sometimes, with a social… Continue reading

If you have ever struggled with apprehension and anxiety in social situations, then the below thoughts will likely sound familiar:

“Did I say or do something offensive?”
“Other people must think I’m weird.”
“What if I burden others and they are annoyed?”

While automatic thoughts such as these that arise in social situations and lead to significant… Continue reading

Have you ever wondered what truly makes people feel connected? Many assume it’s about being a great listener or having an outgoing, bubbly personality. While these qualities can help, the real foundation of meaningful connection—the social cement—is something deeper: emotions, and more specifically, the sharing of emotional… Continue reading

Sexual anxiety is a natural extension of social anxiety, affecting not only how we interact in daily life but also how we engage in intimate relationships. Many individuals struggle with fears of rejection, negative judgment, or inadequate performance, which can lead to avoidance, self-criticism, and tension during sexual encounters. The good news is… Continue reading

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