Treating Social Anxiety: Exposure Therapy

[@minar5653]

Thank you very much for this post. 👍🏻 Yes, behavioural work is most effective, then processing what was learned later, each time, until things gets easier.

[@RandyPaterson]

Some evidence suggests that behavioural work is more effective at changing cognitions than cognitive work is, at least with some concerns. This seems odd until you think about it a bit. We can sit chatting about the questionable validity of "Oh, I could never do X" until the cows come home. But if we actually get you to DO X, this can dispel the idea pretty effectively. Hard to argue you could never talk to strangers when you've just done it.

[@JoqsanCastellanos]

Omg I've been doing exposure therapy without knowing it.

[@carolinechapman8984]

Thankyou for the post. Doing rather than thinking, I like that. This makes sense. And it's creating new habits in the brain's circuitry.

[@Mindsetolympics]

Asking for things, people staring, being seen in a place where Im the black person and walking in a broad area, being at work, people asking me personal questions and having to confront someone.

[@chechoaus]

Interesting video. It all sounds doable and reasonable to me, now how to find a group that does that sort of work in Melbourne Australia! 😖

[@RandyPaterson]

Check with the Aus Psychological Association, for which I did some training a few years ago. They are in Melbourne. But there should be many practitioners who do CBT-based work with social anxiety.

[@Darren-f9z]

Im a alcoholic and ive got abit of social anxiety going on been sober 6 months now but its part of my treatment to go meetings but dont want people to see me anxious aka looking weak

[@RandyPaterson]

Meetings are the perfect social anxiety exposure therapy. If I could send non-alcoholics to them I would. You can talk or not; every person who has ever attended has felt anxiety, guilt, or shame at being there at one point or another; and you get to see beneath the carefully composed mask people wear in other settings. Few settings are better for sharing one’s humanity and realizing that this is what makes you belong, not what sets you apart.

[@Darren-f9z]

Yeah the mask mine was the alcohol mask. If I had it on I could pretend to the world that I was coping with life when clearly I wasn't. Now I can't put my mask on and now my insecurities are exposed for every one to see

[@jayros4269]

Can you do a video on body dysmorphia and anxiety related to body image?

[@RandyPaterson]

This is a topic I would cede to a colleague who thus far has not expressed a desire to do videos. I do anticipate inviting more guests in future, however.

[@bestwitch2931]

Are the groups that do this in Indiana, near and around Chicago?

[@RandyPaterson]

Exposure therapy is a standard treatment for social anxiety. For services in your local area, I recommend consulting with the state or provincial psychological association in your area.

[@venooom5316]

How to solve difficulty eye contact in social anxiety in table talks face to face?

[@RandyPaterson]

The same way we do other forms of exposure: bit by bit. The person takes this on as their “project” for a week at a time. Going into any social situation, they contemplate their “intent.” Five quick glances in the 20 minute meeting, or “look at the barista while ordering,” or “hold the gaze for ‘one steamboat’ at least once.” With repetition this tends to get easier - but only by tolerating this type of ridiculous and artificial exercise practice. If the person can’t stand doing it artificially and deliberately despite it not feeling genuine, the problem is unlikely to improve.

[@supersarah5673]

I’m going to shit myself next time I get a coffee😆

[@rudrasharma8031]

How to get rid of that feeling in chest and neck like something is choking my neck

[@RandyPaterson]

Please consult a medical professional about this - though the words you use resemble the way some describe anxiety-related intercostal breathing without the diaphragm.