By Transitioning to College The transition from high school to college can be a very exciting time. You are taking a step out from under the watchful eyes of your parents and are suddenly dictating your own schedule. There are opportunities to meet new friends, join interesting clubs and possibly make some not-so-great decisions. While the… Continue reading
By Social anxiety is common in children and adolescents, and it often goes untreated. These students are often well-behaved, quiet, and do their work. Teachers (and some parents) are frequently unaware of the student’s anxiety until it becomes a crisis. Even then, because the anxiety-producing situation seems relatively inconsequential to others, adults may try to encourage… Continue reading
By School Refusal School refusal behavior is one of the most common childhood problems (Kearney, 2008). Too many absences in elementary school can delay necessary skills for friendships and academic success. Some students struggle with poor attendance year after year, resulting in inadequate preparation for the demands of middle school. Due to excessive absences, they miss… Continue reading
By Understanding Social Anxiety and CBT One pattern of thinking that is central to the maintenance of social anxiety involves a consistent overestimation of the likelihood of a negative social event occurring. Common examples include the estimation of likely being rejected, judged negatively, or being the focus of negative attention. This overestimation also tends to include… Continue reading
By Fear of public speaking is extremely common, often people fear it more than death itself! The experience varies from person to person – from feeling a little nervous to complete panic or freezing. Public speaking tends to be feared more intensely and more often by those who have social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, whether it… Continue reading
By What is Post-event Rumination and How Does It Relate to Social Anxiety? “Why did I say that?” “I was the most awkward person at the party.” “I was so quiet that no one even noticed that I was there.” Have thoughts like this plagued you following a social event? When a person is stuck thinking… Continue reading
By Work and Stress Work is stressful. We all have had jobs that, as a matter of course, caused our anxiety levels to spike and brought a general sense of being overwhelmed. But in the workplace, there are several things that can be ameliorating factors: one of which is our peers, co-workers, and managers. The literature… Continue reading
By “What do I do with these upsetting thoughts that make me socially anxious?” In a pair of previous blog posts, I explain the role of two strategies used in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for dealing with upsetting thoughts that help cause our social anxiety: mindfulness and cognitive restructuring. Now I get into the nuts and bolts… Continue reading
By The way in which people communicate has changed drastically over recent history, and will likely to continue to do so at a rapid pace. It is difficult to remember a time without Facebook, Twitter, text messages, or even e-mails. How did we communicate with each other before then? Oh, yes, we spoke to each other… Continue reading
By Thoughts and Feelings in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Social Anxiety Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has repeatedly been shown to be the most effective treatment for social anxiety disorder for the large majority of people. A central principle in CBT is that what we feel—such as social anxiety—is created not directly by a situation we experience, but… Continue reading
By Statistics shows that about 3.7 percent of the U.S. population ages 18 to 54—approximately 5.3 million Individuals are diagnosed with a social phobia each year. Social phobia occurs in women twice as often as in men, although there is a higher volume of men that seek help for this disorder. Dating is a challenging process,… Continue reading
By Upsetting Social Anxiety Thoughts –I don’t know what to say. What do I say next? –I might say something stupid / offensive. –S/he’ll think I’m boring / stupid / unattractive / socially inept, and will dislike me. –What I have to say isn’t good enough. No one will be interested. –They can tell I’m anxious… Continue reading
By What is Avoidant Personality Disorder? Avoidant Personality Disorder (avoidant PD) can be thought of as a more extreme and pervasive type of social anxiety that cuts across many parts of your life. For example, if you have social anxiety, you may have specific social fears such as public speaking, dating, making phone calls, fear of… Continue reading
By Bringing Your Social Anxiety With You For The Holidays We have waited all year and they are finally here: The Winter Holidays. Holidays can be a time of excitement, fun, and celebration. They often brings us together with loved ones near and far, giving us the opportunity to reconnect and strengthen our relationships. The holidays… Continue reading
By Anxiety is a function that is built into the human nervous system, for better or for worse. Understanding that it is natural (though seldom logical, and almost never comfortable) allows space for questions such as, “What would it feel like to fully accept anxiety when it is present?” “If I stopped fighting, what would happen?”… Continue reading