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HOW TO OVERCOME YOUR SOCIAL ANXIETY WHEN BEING OBSERVED

Can you guess what concern these three individuals have in common? A 63 year-old man who is terrified about speaking at his daughter’s wedding. A 32-year-old woman who’s afraid of getting sick when she flies. A 26-year-old dental student who gets scared whenever his professors watch him doing procedures. Each one of them is afraid… Continue reading

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NAVIGATING THE WAVES OF POSTPARTUM SOCIAL ANXIETY

The postpartum period is often marked by hormonal fluctuations, lack of sleep, and stress as parents navigate their new roles. For approximately 10% of parents (moms and dads alike!), this stress progresses into an anxiety disorder, with generalized anxiety disorder being the most commonly diagnosed followed by social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, very little research… Continue reading

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TIPS FOR DATING WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY

First dates can be nerve wracking for many people, whether or not they have social anxiety. People often have thoughts about whether the other person will like them, find them attractive, interesting or boring, and of course, will there be enough to talk about or a lot of awkward silences? After all, social anxiety is… Continue reading

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SOCIAL ANXIETY AND THE PAINFUL ILLUSION OF SEPARATENESS

One of the most insidious and painful aspects of social anxiety many of my clients describe is the feeling of being alone, disconnected, and different from others. These feelings, and the perceptions and beliefs associated with them, can both contribute to and be the result of high levels of distress and suffering in social situations…. Continue reading

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DOES YOUR SOCIAL ANXIETY KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT?

We’ve all been there. Lying awake as the minutes (and hours!) go by, worrying about an upcoming event or ruminating on a past experience. Why did I say that stupid thing at the meeting? I wonder if she’s mad at me? What if I panic during my presentation tomorrow? Or perhaps we are spending time… Continue reading

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OVERCOME SOCIAL ANXIETY BY REDUCING YOUR AVOIDANCE MODES

If you have social anxiety, avoidant coping modes may help you avoid activation of your schemas and your inner critic. Schemas are broad, pervasive themes regarding oneself and others, developed during childhood and reinforced throughout one’s lifetime. They tend to be unhelpful to a significant degree. In social anxiety, schemas may consist of core beliefs… Continue reading