Social Anxiety / Social Phobia: Alone With Witnesses – Part 2

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In part one of this two-part series, we discussed the experience of the Social Anxiety sufferer.  In part two, we examine how to treat this condition with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and how Social Anxiety relates to other Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders.

Treatment of Social Anxiety

Social Anxiety can be successfully treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The most effective form of treatment for Social Anxiety is the same as in other Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  This is because, like the other disorders in the spectrum, Social Anxiety involves an obsession and a series of compulsions which form a cycle.

The fundamental obsession in Social Anxiety is the fear of being evaluated negatively.  This generally includes fears of being rejected, as well as the fear of being singled out for humiliation and traumatized by emotional abuse from others.  The primary compulsion in Social Anxiety is the phobic avoidance of social situations in which one fears rejection and/or humiliation (thus its synonym, Social Phobia).

It is tempting to look at avoidance as the absence of engaging in social behavior.  However, avoidance is an overt physical and mental behavior, the primary goal of which is to reduce or eliminate anxiety.  For the individual with Social Anxiety, the act of choosing not to go to the party thus serves the same function as the act of choosing to wash one’s hands serves for the individual with OCD.  Further, those with Social Anxiety who are able to commit to a social interaction may find themselves escaping mentally in the process by spending their energy focusing on things other than the present situation. › Continue reading

Tags: Anxiety, Avoidant Behaviors, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Compulsive Skin Picking, Hair Pulling, Health, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Olfactory Reference Syndrome, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety / Social Phobia, Trichotillomania

Social Anxiety / Social Phobia: Alone With Witnesses – Part 1

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Many people mistakenly think of Social Anxiety as nothing more than shyness.  In this two-part series, Jon Hershfield of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses Social Anxiety, its treatment with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and its relationship to other OC Spectrum Disorders.

Social Anxiety, also known as Social Phobia, is more than just shyness.

When I first began treating people with Social Anxiety Disorder (also known as Social Phobia), it seemed to me that this condition was primarily a problem of interesting people not realizing that they are interesting.  While this is a significant element of the disorder, there is more going on than one might initially expect.

In reality,  Social Anxiety and Social Phobia are terms used to describe a cluster of symptoms that center around the fear of being negatively evaluated by others.  This is often confused with being shy or introverted, or even schizoid.  An introvert may genuinely prefer the quiet solitude of turning inwards to the self rather than outwards to other people, while someone with schizoid personality disorder may simply not find the presence of other people to be pleasing.  In either of these cases, the experience of isolation from others is essentially rooted in ego-syntonic thoughts, which simply means that the thoughts are consistent with the individual’s true beliefs and values.  In other words, those who are truly introverted or schizoid genuinely prefer to be alone.

Conversely, a person suffering from Social Anxiety is burdened by unwanted intrusive thoughts about being judged, rejected, and/or and humiliated by others. › Continue reading

Tags: Anxiety, Avoidant Behaviors, Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Donny Osmond, Health, Kim Basinger, Mental Health, Social Anxiety / Social Phobia

Parenting a Child With OCD

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Parenting any child is a full-time job.  But parenting a child with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be particularly challenging.  Unfortunately, research is now confirming what any clinician specializing in the treatment of OCD already knows – that parents often inadvertently contribute to their child’s OCD. › Continue reading

Tags: Anxiety, Avoidant Behaviors, Children With OCD, Compulsions, Obsessions, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Parenting, University of Florida