Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment!

If you are struggling with symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder you are not alone.

I have clients tell me all the time that they struggle going to the store, going to the ball park, being in traffic, or eating at restaurants due to fear that others are talking about them or that they'll embarrass themselves somehow.

How are the Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder treated?

The CBGT Operation has three main components:

1.) Expose the person who is experiencing symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder to a social situation.

There are drawbacks and positives to exposure at such an early stage. However, the positives usually outweigh the negatives.

The positives:

• You are put in a social environment where others can relate to your struggles.
• You are challenged by group members to make a commitment to change.
• You are given the opportunity to role-play your fears with understanding group members.

The negatives:

The only negative is having to “suck it up” and challenge yourself to face your fear of being with a group of people.

2.) Cognitive Restructuring

The cognitive restructuring aspect teaches you how to turn your negative thoughts into positive thoughts. An good example is... changing your negative thought of,

“I am going to make such a fool out of myself in front of this stranger! I am going to look like such an idiot.”

To,

“I will not make a fool out of myself. I can talk to this stranger with confidence and ease.”

The benefit of practicing cognitive restructuring in a group format is, you are given the opportunity to role play your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors with other members in the group.

3.) Homework assignments for “in vivo” exposure.

“In vivo” means taking gradual steps to overcome a fear by actually facing the fear.

So, an example of this format includes:

• Call a family member to say hi.
• Call a friend to ask them how they are doing.
• Sit outside on your porch and say hi to one stranger.
• Go to a park and sit on a picnic table.
• Invite a friend for a movie.
• Invite your family for a dinner.
• Invite a co-worker to dinner.
• Go to a major store and allow yourself to stay there for at least 5 minutes.

The purpose of “in vivo” exposure is to take baby steps until you're able to face your biggest fear. You start with the smallest, easiest fear and work your way up to the largest, hardest fear.

Of course, social anxiety disorder treatment can vary for each individual. However, there are other alternatives for treatment, especially if the group format is not your thing. Here are some others examples:

• Individual therapy in an office setting.

  If you would prefer to work one on one with a therapist, individual therapy is the best way to go.

• Individual therapy in a home setting.

  This is where a therapist will help a client face their struggles and fears in the client's home.

• Psychiatric care from a psychiatrist.

  A psychiatrist specializes in the area of treating mental illness with medication (psychotropics: Zoloft, Prozac, etc.). If you have tried individual or group therapy as the primary choice for social anxiety disorder treatment and you haven't seen results, medication may be a better option for you.

  However, medication and therapy is often the best source of treatment for many types of mental illness.

Resource:

Turk, C. L., Heimberg, R.G., Hope, D.A. (2001). Clinical Handbook of Psychological Disorders: A Step-by-Step Treatment Manual. In D.B. Barlow (3rd Ed.), Social Anxiety Disorder (pp. 114-153). The Guilford Press: New York, N.Y.

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