Hypnotherapy For Social Anxiety disorder
SYMPTOMS
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) or 'social phobia' is characterized by a disproportionate level of fear or anxiety that occurs in response to a social situation or scenario. In particular, an individual's worries are centred on being judged or scrutinized by others, resulting in rejection, humiliation, or embarrassment.
Scenarios include everyday social interactions such as having a conversation, meeting an unfamiliar person or persons, eating or drinking in front of others, and performing an activity in front of others such as making a speech, a presentation, or singing.
Social anxiety can also occur in children, where it will be evident in peer settings as well as interactions with adults. Symptoms include crying, clingy behaviour, freezing, tantrums, or an unwillingness to speak.
An individual suffering from social anxiety will attempt to avoid triggering social situations. Diagnosis is dependent on the anxiety, fear, or avoidance being present for a minimum duration of six months, and causing the individual significant distress and impairment.
Although social anxiety might seem similar to shyness and introversion, they are different in relation to the level of anxiety and fear that is experienced, and the extent of impairment and avoidance behaviours. In contrast to social anxiety, shyness and introversion are considered personality traits.
Some individuals only experience social anxiety in relation to public performance, such as speaking or performing an activity in front of others. This type of anxiety is commonly known as 'stage fright'.
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The emotional toll of social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety is a debilitating condition which can cause sufferers to experience significant impairments in relation to their career, friendships, and intimate relationships. Impairments at school can also be evident in younger persons with the condition.
In the workplace, individuals may experience difficulties with networking and developing professional relationships with their colleagues. They can also experience significant fear and anxiety at the thought of attending business meetings, business functions, or interacting with customers.
Fear of rejection, anxiety about intimacy, and low self-confidence can prevent sufferers from pursuing romantic relationships. Poor social skills can also be implicated, having arisen from long-term avoidant behaviour. Although some sufferers are able to initiate and maintain romantic relationships, those with social anxiety disorder are less likely to get married, whilst those who do marry are more likely to get divorced.
WHat are the benefits of HYPNOTHERAPY for social anxiety?
If you're struggling with social anxiety, hypnotherapy can help you to overcome your distress by working on both the physical and psychological aspects of your condition.
Firstly, hypnotherapy can help you to achieve a state of deep relaxation, which can reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. During hypnotherapy sessions, your therapist will guide you through relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, visualization exercises, and progressive muscle relaxation. These techniques can help you to let go of physical tension, clear your mind of negative thoughts, and reduce your anxiety symptoms.
Secondly, hypnotherapy can help you to address the underlying causes of your social anxiety. Often, social anxiety is caused by deeply ingrained negative thought patterns or distorted beliefs that are not serving your best interests. Hypnotherapy will prompt you to gently challenge these distortions and negative thought patters, so you can integrate more useful, realistic and empowering beliefs in your mindset. This process can help to alleviate your social anxiety symptoms and reduce the impact that social anxiety has on your daily life. Finally, hypnotherapy can help you to develop new coping skills to manage your social anxiety. You will be taught techniques such as self-hypnosis, visualization exercises, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques that you can use outside of therapy sessions to reduce feelings of anxiety and take control of your social anxiety symptoms. With practice, these skills can become a natural part of your daily routine, helping you to feel more confident and in control in social situations.
Firstly, hypnotherapy can help you to achieve a state of deep relaxation, which can reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. During hypnotherapy sessions, your therapist will guide you through relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, visualization exercises, and progressive muscle relaxation. These techniques can help you to let go of physical tension, clear your mind of negative thoughts, and reduce your anxiety symptoms.
Secondly, hypnotherapy can help you to address the underlying causes of your social anxiety. Often, social anxiety is caused by deeply ingrained negative thought patterns or distorted beliefs that are not serving your best interests. Hypnotherapy will prompt you to gently challenge these distortions and negative thought patters, so you can integrate more useful, realistic and empowering beliefs in your mindset. This process can help to alleviate your social anxiety symptoms and reduce the impact that social anxiety has on your daily life. Finally, hypnotherapy can help you to develop new coping skills to manage your social anxiety. You will be taught techniques such as self-hypnosis, visualization exercises, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques that you can use outside of therapy sessions to reduce feelings of anxiety and take control of your social anxiety symptoms. With practice, these skills can become a natural part of your daily routine, helping you to feel more confident and in control in social situations.
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Overall, hypnotherapy can be an effective treatment for social anxiety by helping you to achieve a state of relaxation, addressing the underlying causes of your anxiety, and developing new coping skills to manage your symptoms. If you're struggling with social anxiety, consider booking your free online consultation with Barwon Hypnotherapy to discuss treatment options. We understand this this may be a big step for you if you experience anxiety with talking to someone new, and you will not need to have your camera on during the consultation.
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- Melissiah, Telehealth Therapist