Living with Social Anxiety

What is Social Anxiety? 

Social anxiety is an overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety. It can lead to avoidance that can disrupt your day-to-day life. Intense stress can affect your relationships, daily routines, work, school, or other activities. Social anxiety can look like this: 

• Avoidance or worry about social activities. This may include things like parties, group conversations, and meeting new people. 

• Worry about everyday activities such as starting conversations, speaking on the phone, shopping, or working. 

• Issues doing activities when others are watching you. You may feel that others are judging you 

• Avoiding eye contact or having low self-esteem, fear of being criticized. 

• Physical symptoms such as feeling sick, trembling, sweating, or racing heartbeat can occur. 

What Are the Signs of Social Anxiety? 

It can be challenging to feel social anxiety during everyday activities. It is an internal battle people are faced with. Signs that someone has social anxiety are:  

Physical Symptoms

• Shaking/Sweating

• Racing heart

• Upset stomach/Nausea 

• Trouble catching your breath 

• Lack of concentration

 Behavioral Symptoms 

• Avoid talking to strangers

• Struggle attending school or going to work 

• Avoid being the center of attention 

Cognitive Symptoms 

• Ruminating thoughts 

• Out of control negative thinking 

• Worrying 

How We at WellMinded Counseling Can Help Through Anxiety Treatment in Broomfield, CO

When social anxiety becomes overwhelming for a person, it can be hard for others to understand. Are you noticing someone struggling with social anxiety? If so, having compassion for that person will help to make the person feel comfortable. Along with providing an open space for the individual to know that they are not alone. Anxiety treatment in Broomfield, CO, and Boulder, CO will provide you with tools you can use to help cope with social anxiety. Anxiety treatment will also help you explore where the anxiety originated from. Sessions with your therapist may even introduce the idea of exposure therapy. In exposure therapy, you will be offered incremental goals to help create less destress around being in social situations. Therapies such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance Comment Therapy are often used to help manage and treat social anxiety as well.

Resources 

https://www.okaynowbreathe.com/podcast/

https://www.socialanxietysupport.com/forums/

Written By Malhia Best

A little bit about the author: Malhia is in her 2nd year of training at the University of Denver. During this time she has engaged in a variety of training and supervision. In her free time, Malhia enjoys cooking/baking and trying new recipes, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends. 

Begin Anxiety Treatment in Broomfield, CO

Our team of caring therapists would be honored to offer you support from our Broomfield, CO-based therapy practice. You don't have to struggle with the stress of social anxiety alone. To begin counseling in Broomfield, CO, or online therapy in Colorado, please follow these steps:

1. Contact our Counseling Office

2. Meet with an anxiety therapist for a free consultation

3. Begin overcoming your anxiety symptoms.

Other Counseling Services Offered at WellMinded Counseling Center

Our Denver area counseling center sees clients of all ages and addresses a wide variety of mental health concerns. WellMinded offers the following counseling services:

• Substance Abuse Counseling

• LGBTQ Affirming Counseling

• Yoga Therapy

• Hypnotherapy

• Walk and Talk Therapy

• EMDR

• Online Therapy

• Group Therapy

• Couples Therapy

• Relationship Counseling

• Anxiety Treatment

• Depression Treatment

• Trauma Treatment

• Teen Therapy

• Self-Esteem Counseling