Social Anxiety

You may long to connect with others but feel paralysed by worry, leading to avoidance or distress. Therapy can help you overcome this cycle and feel more confident in social interactions.

What is Social Anxiety?

Social Anxiety Disorder involves intense and persistent fear of social or performance situations. It often starts in adolescence but can affect people of any age. Social anxiety is maintained by harsh self-criticism and avoidance, which reinforce the belief that situations are unsafe.

Symptoms of Social Anxiety

• Worrying for days or weeks before social events

• Fear of embarrassment or humiliation

• Blushing, trembling, sweating, or nausea in social situations

• Avoiding parties, meetings, presentations, or everyday interactions

• Replay of conversations and negative self-judgement afterwards

Types of Social Anxiety

• Performance Anxiety: fear of public speaking, presenting, or performing in front of others

• Generalised Social Anxiety: worry across most social settings, from conversations to group events

How Therapy Can Help with Social Anxiety

Therapy provides tools to:

• Challenge negative self-beliefs through CBT

• Reduce avoidance by gradually facing feared situations with support

• Use Compassion-Focused Therapy to soften harsh self-criticism

• Explore deeper patterns in Schema Therapy if difficulties are long-standing

• Learn mindfulness strategies to anchor your attention in the present rather than imagined judgement

With the right approach, many people find they can engage socially with far less fear and much greater ease.

When to Seek Help

If fear of social situations is limiting your relationships, education, or career, therapy can help. You do not need to live with constant worry about others’ opinions.