Understanding
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is more than just shyness or nervousness in social situations. It's an intense, persistent fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated by others.
Understanding
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is more than just shyness or nervousness in social situations. It's an intense, persistent fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated by others.
Understanding
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is more than just shyness or nervousness in social situations. It's an intense, persistent fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated by others.
What does Social Anxiety feel like?
Living with social anxiety often feels like being constantly under a spotlight, with every interaction feeling like a performance where you might be found lacking. You may spend hours beforehand worrying about upcoming social events, replaying conversations in your mind, or avoiding social situations altogether to prevent the intense discomfort.
Physical symptoms frequently accompany these mental experiences - your face might flush, hands tremble, or voice shake when speaking to others. Many people describe feeling frozen or tongue-tied in social situations, leading to a cycle of avoidance that can result in isolation, missed opportunities, and reduced quality of life.
Common Symptoms
Intense fear of judgment or criticism from others
Blushing, sweating, or trembling in social situations
Difficulty making eye contact or speaking up
Avoiding social events, meetings, or gatherings
Physical symptoms like nausea or rapid heartbeat before social interactions
Overthinking conversations and social interactions afterward
Fear of eating, drinking, or performing tasks
Extreme self-consciousness and fear of embarrassment
What does Social Anxiety feel like?
Living with social anxiety often feels like being constantly under a spotlight, with every interaction feeling like a performance where you might be found lacking. You may spend hours beforehand worrying about upcoming social events, replaying conversations in your mind, or avoiding social situations altogether to prevent the intense discomfort.
Physical symptoms frequently accompany these mental experiences - your face might flush, hands tremble, or voice shake when speaking to others. Many people describe feeling frozen or tongue-tied in social situations, leading to a cycle of avoidance that can result in isolation, missed opportunities, and reduced quality of life.
Common Symptoms
Intense fear of judgment or criticism from others
Blushing, sweating, or trembling in social situations
Difficulty making eye contact or speaking up
Avoiding social events, meetings, or gatherings
Physical symptoms like nausea or rapid heartbeat before social interactions
Overthinking conversations and social interactions afterward
Fear of eating, drinking, or performing tasks
Extreme self-consciousness and fear of embarrassment
What does Social Anxiety feel like?
Living with social anxiety often feels like being constantly under a spotlight, with every interaction feeling like a performance where you might be found lacking. You may spend hours beforehand worrying about upcoming social events, replaying conversations in your mind, or avoiding social situations altogether to prevent the intense discomfort.
Physical symptoms frequently accompany these mental experiences - your face might flush, hands tremble, or voice shake when speaking to others. Many people describe feeling frozen or tongue-tied in social situations, leading to a cycle of avoidance that can result in isolation, missed opportunities, and reduced quality of life.
Common Symptoms
Intense fear of judgment or criticism from others
Blushing, sweating, or trembling in social situations
Difficulty making eye contact or speaking up
Avoiding social events, meetings, or gatherings
Physical symptoms like nausea or rapid heartbeat before social interactions
Overthinking conversations and social interactions afterward
Fear of eating, drinking, or performing tasks
Extreme self-consciousness and fear of embarrassment
History of Social Anxiety
The understanding of social anxiety has evolved from being dismissed as simple shyness to recognition as a legitimate and treatable mental health condition.
1980s
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) was officially included in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, establishing it as a recognized mental health condition requiring professional treatment.
1990s
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) was officially included in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, establishing it as a recognized mental health condition requiring professional treatment.
1990s
Large-scale research studies revealed social anxiety as one of the most common mental health conditions, affecting millions of people and significantly impacting quality of life.
Present
Modern treatment approaches combine cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure techniques, and when appropriate, medication, with research showing highly effective outcomes for most people seeking treatment.
History of Social Anxiety
The understanding of social anxiety has evolved from being dismissed as simple shyness to recognition as a legitimate and treatable mental health condition.
1980s
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) was officially included in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, establishing it as a recognized mental health condition requiring professional treatment.
1990s
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) was officially included in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, establishing it as a recognized mental health condition requiring professional treatment.
1990s
Large-scale research studies revealed social anxiety as one of the most common mental health conditions, affecting millions of people and significantly impacting quality of life.
Present
Modern treatment approaches combine cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure techniques, and when appropriate, medication, with research showing highly effective outcomes for most people seeking treatment.
History of Social Anxiety
The understanding of social anxiety has evolved from being dismissed as simple shyness to recognition as a legitimate and treatable mental health condition.
1980s
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) was officially included in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, establishing it as a recognized mental health condition requiring professional treatment.
1990s
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) was officially included in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, establishing it as a recognized mental health condition requiring professional treatment.
1990s
Large-scale research studies revealed social anxiety as one of the most common mental health conditions, affecting millions of people and significantly impacting quality of life.
Present
Modern treatment approaches combine cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure techniques, and when appropriate, medication, with research showing highly effective outcomes for most people seeking treatment.
Take our free self-test
Take our free self-test
Take a short self-test to see if counselling might make a difference.
Take a short self-test to see if counselling might make a difference.
Instructions
Answer based on the last 2 weeks. Choose the option that fits best. You’ll see your results at the end.
This short self-test screens for social anxiety over the last 2 weeks. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help you decide next steps.
How therapy can help
Evidence-based therapy approaches, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, have proven highly effective for treating social anxiety. Through therapy, you'll learn to identify and challenge the thoughts that fuel social fears, develop practical skills for managing anxiety in social situations, and gradually build confidence through supported exposure to feared scenarios.
Therapists also integrate mindfulness techniques, social skills training, and relaxation strategies to provide comprehensive tools for managing social anxiety and building lasting confidence in social interactions.
Benefits of Therapy
Learn to identify and challenge negative social thoughts
Develop practical coping strategies for social situations
Build confidence through gradual, supported exposure
Improve communication and social skills
Reduce physical symptoms of anxiety
Overcome avoidance patterns and social isolation
Develop realistic perspectives about social interactions
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about social anxiety and treatment
How is social anxiety different from being shy or introverted?
Can social anxiety develop later in life?
How long does it take to see improvement in social anxiety?
What if I'm too anxious to even start therapy?
How therapy can help
Evidence-based therapy approaches, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, have proven highly effective for treating social anxiety. Through therapy, you'll learn to identify and challenge the thoughts that fuel social fears, develop practical skills for managing anxiety in social situations, and gradually build confidence through supported exposure to feared scenarios.
Therapists also integrate mindfulness techniques, social skills training, and relaxation strategies to provide comprehensive tools for managing social anxiety and building lasting confidence in social interactions.
Benefits of Therapy
Learn to identify and challenge negative social thoughts
Develop practical coping strategies for social situations
Build confidence through gradual, supported exposure
Improve communication and social skills
Reduce physical symptoms of anxiety
Overcome avoidance patterns and social isolation
Develop realistic perspectives about social interactions
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about social anxiety and treatment
How is social anxiety different from being shy or introverted?
Can social anxiety develop later in life?
How long does it take to see improvement in social anxiety?
What if I'm too anxious to even start therapy?
How therapy can help
Evidence-based therapy approaches, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, have proven highly effective for treating social anxiety. Through therapy, you'll learn to identify and challenge the thoughts that fuel social fears, develop practical skills for managing anxiety in social situations, and gradually build confidence through supported exposure to feared scenarios.
Therapists also integrate mindfulness techniques, social skills training, and relaxation strategies to provide comprehensive tools for managing social anxiety and building lasting confidence in social interactions.
Benefits of Therapy
Learn to identify and challenge negative social thoughts
Develop practical coping strategies for social situations
Build confidence through gradual, supported exposure
Improve communication and social skills
Reduce physical symptoms of anxiety
Overcome avoidance patterns and social isolation
Develop realistic perspectives about social interactions
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about social anxiety and treatment
How is social anxiety different from being shy or introverted?
Can social anxiety develop later in life?
How long does it take to see improvement in social anxiety?
What if I'm too anxious to even start therapy?
Meet our Therapists
Meet our Therapists
Meet our specialists who can help guide your recovery
