Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a psychological disorder characterized by intense fear, anxiety, and self-consciousness in social situations. 

Many people visit therapists, psychologists and mental health professionals for social anxiety support.  Some mental health professionals also offer group therapy or social anxiety support groups.

Common treatment options include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), group therapy sessions, mindfulness, and overall help & support from a trained mental health professional.

Social anxiety and depression can be connected and are common conditions which can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background.

Mental health professionals label anxiety disorder as a mental illness which can interfere with many areas of your life such as school, family, and relationships.

People with social anxiety experience excessive worry about being humiliated, embarrassed, or negatively judged by others.

This fear is more than just shyness.  People can feel real shame, humiliation, and fear from not being accepted.

They may have an intense fear of being the center of attention, speaking in public, or engaging in social interactions.
 

Individuals with social anxiety often avoid social situations or endure them with significant distress.

They may have difficulty making friends, participating in group activities, or even going to work or school.

The fear of social situations can significantly impact their daily lives and quality of life.

 

Some common symptoms of social anxiety include:
 

1. Excessive self-consciousness:
   
   Feeling intensely self-aware and worrying about being judged or scrutinized by others.
   
   Feeling acutely self-aware and worrying about being judged, evaluated, or scrutinized by others in social situations. It can have a significant impact on a person's ability to engage in social interactions and can lead to avoidance of certain situations.
   
    

2. Fear of judgment:
   
   Having an overwhelming fear of being embarrassed, humiliated, or criticized in social situations.
   
   An intense and often irrational fear of being negatively evaluated, criticized, or judged by others in social situations.
   
   This fear can significantly impact a person's ability to interact with others, leading to avoidance of certain situations and heightened anxiety.
   
    

3. Avoidance behaviour:
   
   Avoiding social situations, parties, public speaking, or situations where they may be the center of attention.
   
   Actively avoiding situations, places, or activities that trigger feelings of anxiety or distress related to social interactions.
   
   Avoidance behaviours in social anxiety are typically aimed at preventing the experience of embarrassment, scrutiny, or negative evaluation by others.
   
    

4. Physical symptoms:
   
   Experiencing physical symptoms like trembling, blushing, sweating, rapid heartbeat, nausea, or difficulty speaking in social situations.
   
   Social anxiety disorder often manifests with various physical symptoms that result from the body's physiological response to stress and anxiety.
   
   These symptoms can intensify when individuals face social situations or interactions.
   
    

5. Negative self-perception:
   
   Having low self-esteem, negative self-beliefs, and a tendency to interpret social interactions as negative or critical.
   
   Involves having a distorted and critical view of oneself, often accompanied by a fear of being judged or rejected by others in social situations.
   
   This negative self-perception can contribute to heightened anxiety and avoidance of social interactions.
   
    

Social anxiety disorder is different from shyness, as it involves more severe symptoms and interferes with a person's ability to function in social settings.

It is a recognized mental health condition that can be diagnosed and treated by mental health professionals.

Treatment options may include therapy, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), medication, and self-help strategies aimed at reducing anxiety and improving social functioning.



Coaches do NOT help people overcome or treat any kind of mental illness such as an anxiety disorder.  If you have been diagnosed with or think you have social anxiety, it's best to speak with mental health professionals such as psychologists, psychotherapists, and therapists.



If you have not been diagnosed with social anxiety, but experience habitual feelings of fear and worry in social situations, a coach may be able to help.

Our subconscious & unconscious mind make up 90%+ of our behaviour. 

Anybody who has subconscious beliefs that make them feel like they're not enough, there's something wrong with them, or that their needs or what they think or feel is not important can make them feel scared in engage in social interactions.

The good news is that these are just beliefs & patterns that can be broken and changed. 

Breaking patterns allows you to see the truth of who you are, and that there actually is not wrong with you at all.

Through coaching, the goal is to find these underlying subconscious beliefs and patterns, and either change or break them.

You will receive new options, opportunities, and choices regarding how you want to live your life with self-love, compassion, and understanding.

Breaking limiting and untrue patterns and beliefs about yourself and about life frees you and puts you back in the driver's seat.

For example, some people feel sad and hopeless because they desperately want to feel Love & Connection, but subconsciously believe that they have to EARN it from themselves and other people, instead of experiencing it head-on.

Through coaching, you'll learn how to live OUT OF Love & Connection, as opposed to chasing it.

There are other common beliefs that once changed could help you go from feeling fear to feeling secure in yourself, and being able to interact with friends, in whatever way is natural to you. 

Changing untrue beliefs can also allow you to fully express yourself, again, in whatever way is natural to you.Call me to book Step 1: Your Phone Consultation to answer all of your questions and to see if we're a good fit to work together.