If the thought of speaking in public, attending social gatherings or even just making small talk causes you persistent and overwhelming fear, you may be struggling with social anxiety. Social anxiety, or social phobia, is more than just feeling nervous before a big presentation or meeting new people. This mental health condition affects an estimated 13% of American adults and can make everyday situations feel like daunting challenges. Severe social anxiety affects approximately 30% of people with social anxiety. It can have a profound impact on your relationships, career and overall quality of life. While you may feel like you navigate an emotional minefield every day, there’s hope. With the right support and treatment, it can be possible to manage social anxiety and reclaim your life. 

Treatment approaches to help you find your path to confidence

If your social anxiety is making it difficult for you to go to school, go to work or participate in activities you enjoy, it’s important to seek professional help. There are many effective treatments to help severe social anxiety. The best approach will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Common options include:

• Psychotherapy
• Medication
• Support groups

Process-based therapy for severe social anxiety

Severe social anxiety can create a tangled web of challenges in your life. It can make it hard for you to effectively manage your emotions, control your thoughts, navigate social situations and build healthy relationships. Therapy can be a beneficial option to help you overcome your severe social anxiety. Working with a therapist trained in process-based therapy (PBT) can help you uncover the root causes of your anxiety, learn how to effectively manage your emotions, challenge negative thoughts and develop healthy coping mechanisms. PBT is a unique approach to treatment that can be a fully personalized plan designed just for you. Your therapist will use the most effective components of evidence-based modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and cognitive processing therapy (CPT). Your treatment plan will also include compassion-based and somatic therapies. The key components from these proven modalities help target the drivers behind your severe social anxiety and its symptoms. Every mental health condition has a basis in four fundamental and interconnected core processes. These core processes work together to keep your mental health healthy and balanced. Severe social anxiety can disrupt this delicate balance. Your PBT treatment plan can help each core process:

• Emotional regulation — PBT can help you explore the connection between your emotions and social anxiety. You might discover how negative thoughts about social situations trigger emotions like fear, shame or anger. Your therapist can help you learn healthy ways to manage your intense emotions in the moment. This can help empower you to stay calmer and more grounded in social situations. 
• Thought processing — Using PBT, your therapist can guide you to recognize negative thought patterns that fuel your social anxiety. These negative thoughts could be self-critical thoughts or catastrophic predictions. By exploring the patterns, PBT can help you challenge them and develop more realistic and empowering beliefs. 
• Behavioral activation — Severe social anxiety can lead you to have avoidance behaviors. You may skip presentations, avoid social gatherings or cancel plans due to anxiety. Through PBT, you can learn to understand the impact these avoidance behaviors have and how they reinforce your anxiety in the long run. Your therapist can use gradual exposure to social situations in a safe and controlled environment. This may involve role-playing conversations with your therapist or practicing social skills with a supportive friend. As you gain mastery over the situations, your confidence can grow and you can be less tempted to avoid social interactions. 
• Relationship effectiveness — Severe social anxiety can make it hard for you to connect with others. You may often feel isolated and alone. PBT can help you explore how your anxiety affects your relationships and communications with others. It can also help you learn effective communication skills so you can express yourself clearly and confidently in social situations. Your therapist can help you build these communication skills through assertiveness training or practicing initiating conversations. By improving your communication skills, you can build stronger and more meaningful relationships.

Recognizing the signs of severe social anxiety

Some social anxiety can be expected. However, there’s a line between being a little shy and nervous and having a condition that requires treatment. Some indicators that your social anxiety might be severe and could benefit from treatment include:

• Intense anxiety in most social situations
• Avoiding social situations
• Physical symptoms like blushing, trembling, a rapid heart rate, nausea or dizziness
• Difficulty participating in discussions, giving presentations or interacting with peers
• Distress that affects your ability to function regularly in daily life

If you recognize these symptoms in yourself, it’s important to reach out for help. Severe social anxiety is a treatable condition. There’s no shame in asking for help. Reaching out can help you unlock a happier and more fulfilling life. 

Benefits of seeking help for your severe social anxiety can include:

• Reduced anxiety and fear
• Increased self-esteem
• Improved social skills
• Enhanced quality of life 
• Stronger relationships
• Better career opportunities
• Reduced risk of other mental health issues 

You don’t have to face your struggle with severe social anxiety alone; Lightfully can help

At Lightfully Behavioral Health, we understand the impact severe social anxiety can have on your life. Our licensed clinical experts see each of our clients as the complex and layered human they are, not just their diagnosis. We use a holistic approach to provide you with whole-person-centered care that can help equip you with the skills you need to help you overcome the challenges of severe social anxiety and create a life filled with confidence, connection and a renewed sense of well-being. 

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, contact us. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.