Social anxiety is very real and it is fairly common, according to the Anxiety & Depression Society of America. Roughly 7.1% of the American population is affected by this disorder. Besides seeing a therapist, there is something that is known as social anxiety exposure therapy. Read on to learn more about this type of therapy.
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social anxiety disorder is a mental health condition in which social situations cause someone irrational anxiety and fear. It can keep them from being able to interact with others. People who have this disorder feel strong emotions like embarrassment and heightened self-consciousness since they feel like the other people around them are judging them. As a result, they may withdraw from the world and avoid talking to people. One way to help alleviate symptoms of this condition is to do social anxiety exposure therapy. Much like other specialized therapies, such as neurofeedback for trauma, social anxiety exposure therapy can provide someone with the tools to reduce symptoms of their disorder.
Facing Your Fear with Help
While you could aim to confront this yourself, it’s usually better to do social anxiety exposure therapy with a trained professional guiding you through the whole thing. That’s because you can talk with them before even starting and the therapist can identify the disorder’s main source. After that, they will come up with a plan so that you can expose yourself to these scenarios.
How Does It Work?
You will likely start off small and start building up your confidence. The therapist may have you imagine yourself in certain scenarios and then gradually increase your exposure to people. By successfully “winning” those easier scenarios, you’ll become more at ease as the situations become more complex. It’s not going to be a straight path, though. You might have to repeat some situations until you’re ready to move to the next stage. The therapist who is guiding you through this social anxiety exposure therapy will be patient since each person has their own unique situations and feelings. What works fast for one might take more time for another.
This treatment can provide patients with a sense of security in social situations, allowing them to enjoy themselves more often. Are you looking to treat social anxiety disorder? Connect with Trauma Healing Northwest today to learn how our specialized therapies, such as EMDR and neurofeedback for trauma, can help you.