| Each person at some point in time has experienced | | | | one or more people). |
| anxiety during some social or presentation situation. | | | | • Talking to people in authority (e.g., employer, |
| Having social phobia or anxiety prevents people from | | | | professor, doctor) |
| being able to do the things they want to do. People | | | | • Going to a party |
| that has anxiety want to be friendly, open, and | | | | • Being assertive (e.g., refusing to give in to |
| sociable. It is fear (anxiety) that holds them back from | | | | unreasonable requests, asking others to change their |
| participating. The good news is that there is a social | | | | behavior) |
| anxiety treatment available. | | | | • Initiating or maintaining conversation |
| Social anxiety disorder is the most severe form of | | | | • Talking to strangers |
| shyness or social phobia. In order to be diagnosed with | | | | • Inviting friends over for dinner |
| this kind of anxiety disorder, a person must experience | | | | • Talking on the phone |
| extreme levels of social anxiety, enough to bother her | | | | • Being in intimate situations |
| or him or to interference in her or his daily routine (e.g., | | | | • Expressing personal opinions |
| school, work, relationships) | | | | • Returning items to a store or sending food back in |
| Social Anxiety Categoriesa. Performance situations | | | | a restaurant |
| (e.g., performing in front of others or being observed by | | | | Effective Social Anxiety Treatment |
| other people) | | | | Biological Treatments |
| • Talking in meetings or classes | | | | There are a number of medications that have proven |
| • Public speaking | | | | useful for treating anxiety disorder. The decision to |
| • Writing in front of others | | | | take medication and which medication to use should |
| • Eating or drinking in front of others | | | | be based upon a number of factors, and should be |
| • Participating in sports or working out in front of | | | | discussed with a doctor first. |
| others | | | | Psychological Treatments |
| • Performing music or acting on stage | | | | Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) include: |
| • Being in public areas such as a shopping mall or a | | | | Cognitive Therapy - Involves learning to identify one's |
| bus | | | | anxious thoughts and to replace them with more |
| • Using public restrooms when other people are | | | | realistic thoughts |
| nearby | | | | Exposure to Feared Situations - involves confronting a |
| • Making mistakes in front of othersb. Social | | | | feared situation repeatedly, until the situation no longer |
| interaction situations (e.g., engaging or interacting with | | | | triggers fear. |