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OCD Center of L.A.
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The primary distinguishing feature of Social Anxiety, also known as Social Phobia, is an intense, recurrent fear of social or performance situations. Individuals with Social Anxiety are excessively afraid of acting in a manner that will be perceived as embarrassing, or of exhibiting anxiety symptoms that others will observe and judge negatively (e.g., profuse sweating, shaky hands, trembling voice). Exposure to the feared social situation results in an immediate and intense level of anxiety, sometimes to the extent of having a panic attack. This anxiety and its associated avoidance behaviors cause significant emotional distress, and may considerably interfere with daily functioning and interpersonal relationships.
Some examples of situations feared by those with Social Anxiety include:
Because of these many similarities, some of the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) methods that are so effective in treating OCD are also employed in the treatment of Social Anxiety. The primary technique for treating both OCD and Social Anxiety is a type of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy called "Exposure and Response Prevention" (ERP). To learn more about Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety, click here.
In addition to individual therapy for Social Anxiety, the OCD Center of Los Angeles also offers five weekly, low-fee, therapy/support groups for people with OCD, Social Anxiety, and related conditions. These groups are lead by our staff therapists, and use the same treatment protocol as our individual Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy program. For more information on these groups, click here.
If you are experiencing any of the above Social Anxiety symptoms, and would like to discuss individual or group therapy for the treatment of Social Anxiety at the OCD Center of Los Angeles, you can call us at (310) 335-5443, or click here to email us. If you live outside Southern California, we recommend that you contact a licensed Cognitive-Behavioral therapist in your local area.
SOCIAL ANXIETY / SOCIAL PHOBIA - SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
While some do not consider Social Anxiety to be a true OC Spectrum Disorder, it does have obsessive-compulsive features that are quite similar to OCD. Both Social Anxiety and OCD are categorized as anxiety disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) published by the American Psychiatric Association. Also, Social Anxiety and OCD both involve intense, irrational fears and repeated avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations. Furthermore, recent studies indicate that approximately 11% of those with OCD also have Social Anxiety. Perhaps the most significant similarity linking Social Anxiety and OCD is the cyclical process by which the symptoms of both increase. To learn more about this process, click here.
Please note that the above is not meant to replace a complete and thorough evaluation by a licensed Cognitive-Behavioral therapist or other qualified mental health professional. As with OCD, some individuals with Social Anxiety may benefit from medication, and may therefore require a psychiatric evaluation. Likewise, a psychiatric assessment may be necessary to differentiate between Social Anxiety and other psychological conditions. If a psychiatric evaluation is indicated, the OCD Center of Los Angeles can refer you to a qualified psychiatrist in our area. Furthermore, it is imperative to make the distinction between Social Anxiety and other medical conditions. For this reason, a medical examination may be necessary.
