Social Anxiety

Social anxiety, or social phobia, is like feeling super self-conscious and shy around others, but cranked up to the max. It’s not just the usual nerves – it’s an intense fear that can make social situations really tough. People with social anxiety often feel shy, embarrassed, or self-conscious in almost every social interaction, to the point where they avoid socialising altogether.

Common Signs of Social Anxiety

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.

What you may not be aware of about
social anxiety...

1

Approximately one in 13
people worldwide suffer
from social anxiety

2

Modern technology,
including social media, can
be a significant factor in
triggering social anxiety

3

An estimated 11% of
Australians experience
social anxiety during their
lifetime

4

Approximately 7% of
Australians experience
social anxiety in any 12-
month period

What the research says
about social anxiety

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.

Tips for managing social anxiety

Our Psychologists are highly qualified with Masters or Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology. They
use Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), the gold standard for many psychological issues, along with
other evidence-based treatments like Mindfulness and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).