By What would you do if a natural disaster were going to strike your hometown in a few days? Maybe you would gather your friends and family and find shelter. When a disaster occurs, it often happens very quickly and people are not able to reach their friends and family particularly low-income families lacking resources. They… Continue reading
By Approach or Avoid? If you have ever noticed your body tense up as you enter a social situation, your thoughts become focused around your self as an object of social evaluation and judgment, your attention scanning for possible signs of danger in the form of negative evaluation, and your emotions telling you to escape or… Continue reading
By Opportunity or Apprehension? Starting college comes with bittersweet anticipation for most students. It’s considered a rite of passage into adulthood and with this milestone comes independence, exploration and personal development. Some see the social parts of college life as the driving force to enroll. Keg parties, fraternity or sorority life and meeting new people is,… Continue reading
By One of the most challenging aspects of social anxiety are the thoughts that come with the experience. People struggling with social anxiety experience a barrage of negative self-judgments and the fear that others view them in that same negative light. Over time, these self-judgments lead to avoidant behaviors such as disengagement in social interactions, substance-use… Continue reading
By The biggest fear of individuals with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is that of being found to be deficient and judged for the deficiency. What does one do so that our deficiencies remain undetected and we are not judged for them? How do we remain safe? The best solution would be to avoid people and situations… Continue reading
By The Cost of Misperception One of the key components that maintains Social Anxiety Disorder over time is a pervasive negative self-image and related self-critical thoughts that are activated in social situations. Once activated, this negative self-image often leads to overly negative misperceptions of how one is coming across to others during social contacts. Increased apprehension… Continue reading
By Have you ever suspected that someone you’re close to is avoiding a social situation because of anxiety? Feeling anxious in social situations is common for many of us, but for some people, it can be debilitating. Your friend or loved-one may be suffering from social anxiety. People often hide their symptoms, so if you notice that a friend… Continue reading
By The fear of public speaking is the most common phobia ahead of death, spiders, or heights. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that public speaking anxiety, or glossophobia, affects about 40%* of the population. The underlying fear is judgment or negative evaluation by others. Public speaking anxiety is considered a social anxiety disorder. *… Continue reading
By “Performance” anxiety, indeed! That’s precisely the problem: thinking of sex as a performance, as something we are doing that is being scrutinized and evaluated by an audience. This performance mindset leads many men to be self-conscious, self-critical, worried, tense and anxious while being sexual. This in turns often results in bringing about the very problem… Continue reading
By Social Media and the Evolution of Social Interactions If there is one thing the 21st century has brought more of into our lives, it is the enterprise known as “social media”. From things like Facebook to Twitter, or more picture oriented apps such as Instagram, the way people interact with each other has changed and… Continue reading
By Effective Communication Through Assertiveness Social anxiety is often associated with low self-confidence in relationships. While treating the anxiety ultimately leads to increased self-confidence, the development effective social skills can also facilitate this process. Effective communication is one of the most importance social skills that contribute to developing and maintaining healthy relationships. Whether you are talking… 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