What is Social Anxiety?
Melbourne has received the news we have been waiting a LONG time for, we can once again sit outside with more than one friend! Albeit for only two hours and they can only be friends from one other household, that are within 5 kms of our house, but we’ll take it!
However, for some, the thought of socialising again, in a somewhat* normal context, may bring up thoughts of anxiety. It’s true, it’s been a long time between drinks. For some, socialising in bigger groups carries a lot of feelings of anxiety. I know a number of people who largely manage these feelings well, through practice and patience. Though, to be fair, we’re all a little out of practice aren’t we?
If you’re having feelings of apprehension about opening up your world ,and socialising, again it might be helpful to understand, what exactly is social anxiety?
Social Anxiety falls under the broader umbrella of anxiety disorders from a psychological perspective. Like all formal diagnoses a number of criteria need to be fulfilled in order for someone to be considered to have social anxiety. Here are some of the key things Psychologists look for when supporting someone experiencing anxiety in social situations.
A marked or persistent fear of social situations, especially those where you may be interacting with people you don’t know, or where you feel you may be judged
You are aware that these situations cause you extreme anxiety but you are also aware that these anxieties are excessive and might not necessarily ‘match’ the situation (e.g. you’re feeling extremely overwhelmed and have an upset stomach and can’t concentrate because you’re having coffee with your best friend and their new flatmate later that day)
You avoid situations because of the anxiety you feel
This anxiety significantly impacts your day-to-day life and stops you doing things you would otherwise like to do
Social anxiety can be an extremely debilitating condition. For many, anxiety not only presents itself in our thoughts but also the way we feel and how our body feels (see What is Anxiety?)
Fortunately, anxiety is one of the most successfully treated conditions. There are a number of heavily researched interventions that have shown significant improvements for people suffering social anxiety. At Piece by Piece Therapies we have a number of Psychologists with extensive experience working in the field of anxiety and who are specially trained in the most effective therapies to treat social anxiety.
If you, or one of your loved ones, would benefit from additional support, especially to build up your confidence and understanding, Piece by Piece Therapies can help. Please feel free to click the button below to get in touch.
Happy Picnicking!