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It’s important to note that while everyone feels nervous or shy in social situations at times, for those with social anxiety disorder, the fear is persistent and can be debilitating.
Feeling anxious or self-conscious in social situations
Worrying about being judged or embarrassed by others
Avoiding social situations or enduring them with intense fear or anxiety
Experiencing physical symptoms like sweating, trembling, or a rapid heartbeat in social situations
Difficulty making eye contact or speaking up in groups
Fear of being the centre of attention
Experiencing anxiety that interferes with daily routines, work, school, or relationships
Low self-esteem or lack of confidence
Being overly sensitive to criticism
Approximately one in 13
people worldwide suffer
from social anxiety
Modern technology,
including social media, can
be a significant factor in
triggering social anxiety
An estimated 11% of
Australians experience
social anxiety during their
lifetime
Approximately 7% of
Australians experience
social anxiety in any 12-
month period
The recent article by Kate Wolitzky-Taylor & Richard LeBeau, “Recent advances in the understanding and psychological treatment of social anxiety disorder,”* published in Faculty Reviews, April 2023, shares some fresh insights on Social Anxiety. Turns out, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is still the top choice for treating Social Anxiety, with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) also doing a great job. SSRIs can help too. For the best results in therapy, it’s important to tackle things like past social trauma, envy, rumination, distraction, difficulties in understanding emotions, and avoidance behaviours.
Social anxiety can make life tricky, affecting everything from social interactions to work performance. It’s also linked to depression, cannabis use disorder, psychosis, and avoidant personality disorder, and it plays a big role in suicide risk. New tools like the Socially Anxious Rumination Questionnaire (SARQ) and Ryerson Social Anxiety Scale (RSAS) help with assessments. Machine-learning algorithms are proving useful in distinguishing between different social difficulties.
Interestingly, research shows that changing behaviour can really impact how we think. Exposure therapy works well, even without focusing on cognitive strategies. While self-guided digital therapies can be effective, they often see high dropout rates and need a personal touch to keep people engaged. Telehealth-based exposures work just as well for things like public speaking. For those who struggle with social anxiety and substance use, combining treatments (like exposure therapy and motivational interviewing) is best. Tackling social anxiety can also improve depression, even in those with both conditions. So, having both social anxiety and depression doesn’t mean treatment won’t work.
*Source: Recent advances in the understanding and psychological treatment of social anxiety disorder – Faculty reviews, vol. 12, issue 8, April 2023.
Practise relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or mindfulness meditation. These can help reduce anxiety in social situations.
Gradually expose yourself to social situations that make you anxious. Start with less intimidating situations and gradually work up to more challenging ones.