Social Anxiety Blog

For much of my life, social anxiety wasn’t just something I had, it was something I was. Overcoming social anxiety wasn’t even on my radar. I didn’t see it as a condition. I saw it as a character flaw, a permanent failure, a reason I didn’t belong in the world. Looking back now, after years of daily work and self-discovery, I can see that recovery didn’t… Read more: 12 Essential Truths in Overcoming Social Anxiety

People with social anxiety disorder are especially susceptible to self-sabotaging their progress. Social anxiety, by its very nature, is your brain’s way of keeping you safe.  Venturing away from your usual patterns often causes pushback into “safety zone” – however subconscious this may be. In fact, self-sabotage and just plain old social anxiety might at first glance seem indistinguishable. Is there a difference? And how do… Read more: Self-Sabotage in Social Anxiety

Most people wonder if social anxiety ever gets better. The short answer is: yes, it can get better—but only if you work on it. Studies show that social anxiety disorder tends to be chronic if untreated. In one long-term study, only about 40% of people recovered over 12 years without formal treatment. So, unfortunately, just hoping it’ll go away usually isn’t enough. But here’s the good news:  there are… Read more: Does Social Anxiety Ever Get better? Here’s What the Research Says

What if the real breakthrough in overcoming Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) isn’t just learning how to cope, but waking up to a deeper part of yourself that doesn’t need fixing at all? For years, my recovery was grounded in solid, evidence-based strategies: mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, gradual exposure, and setting meaningful goals. I committed to showing up every day, especially on the hard days. And slowly, it… Read more: Waking Up from Social Anxiety

Social anxiety and introversion are commonly confused. Sometimes people with social anxiety are also introverts, and vice versa. And both are related to your personal thoughts and feelings about being around people.  But there are some important differences. To understand the differences let’s start by defining what social anxiety and introversion really are. What is social anxiety? Social anxiety, sometimes also called social phobia, is an… Read more: What is the Difference Between Social Anxiety and Introversion?

Do you need to get rid of the root cause of your social anxiety to improve it? Before we get to third person self-talk for social anxiety, let’s talk about a debate in the social anxiety world. The debate is about whether you need to get to the root cause of social anxiety to improve. It’s a debate among professional therapists and researchers. It’s also a… Read more: Third Person Self-talk for Social Anxiety

How values can move you beyond social anxiety If you have social anxiety disorder, overcoming fear is usually your main goal. There are two main drives that help us move beyond social anxiety. The first is the drive to move away from suffering by reducing anxiety, shame, and other painful symptoms. This is important, and it’s where most therapies tend to focus. The second drive is… Read more: Overcoming Fear in Social Anxiety

Is recovery from social anxiety disorder really possible? You may not think so if you’re scrolling through any social anxiety forum on social media. Many people feel discouraged or have even given up hope. So many people have been struggling for years and feel they haven’t made any progress. It’s true that online forums tend to appeal more to people who are still in the thick… Read more: Recovery from Social Anxiety Disorder: A Success Story

How can meditation possibly help with social anxiety? Meditation is something you would probably do sitting at home by yourself. And if you’re like most people with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) you’re probably pretty relaxed if you’re sitting at home by yourself. After all, you can’t meditate in the middle of a party, or speech, or date, and that’s where you really need help! It turns… Read more: Can Meditation Help Social Anxiety Disorder?

If you are like most people with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) or extreme shyness you have been struggling for a long time and have tried tons of approaches to make it go away. Maybe you’ve tried counseling. Maybe you’ve forced yourself to do things you are afraid of. Or, maybe you’ve tried the opposite approach of accepting your limitations and resigning yourself to not going out,… Read more: Why Can’t I Make Any Progress With Social Anxiety?