Instead, they tend to get so overwhelmed with their anxiety that they have problems utilizing their skills.

Social skills training can help people feel more comfortable and utilize their communication and interpersonal skills more effectively.

SAD can also directly impact social behavior regardless of skill level.

If there is a skills deficit, you might learn how to better manage social interactions.

Social Skills Training Techniques

SST generally begins with an assessment of your specific skill deficits and impairments.

The goal of this process is to identify the best targets for social skills training for your particular situation.

Once specific target areas are identified, techniques for improving social skills are introduced.

Usually, changes are made in one area at a time to ensure you don’t get overwhelmed.

A therapist may describe a particular skill, explain how to carry it out, and model the behavior.

Therapists will also discuss both verbal and nonverbal behaviors.

SST has also been shown to increase the results of group CBT for SAD.

In general, SST is most effective when used as part of a comprehensive treatment program involving multiple components.

Areas of Development

Social skills are the building blocks of social interaction.

If you have SAD, you may have missed out on developing some of these important skills.

However, you’re free to always learn them no matter your age.

Being Assertive

Assertiveness helps you relate to others in a way that balances the needs of everyone.

Communicating Non-Verbally

Nonverbal communication, also known as body language, plays a large role in communication.

Communicating Verbally

Verbal communication is another skill.

The art of conversation may seem like a puzzle if you have social anxiety disorder.

You probably have troubleknowing what to sayor feel uncomfortable talking about yourself.

Making Introductions

Introductions are a way of making people feel comfortable.

Knowing how to confidently make introductions is a very useful social skill.

When you practice active listening, the other person in the conversation feels heard.

You might be afraid to answer the phone, make calls, or even record a voice greeting.

Learning these two social skills is important.

Compliments are a way of initiating and deepening relationships.

They are also great conversation starters and a good way to show appreciation for others.

This approach is not neurodiversity-affirming and tries to impose neurotypical standards on people who are not neurotypical.

If you have not yet beendiagnosed with SAD, the first step is to visit your doctor.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK).Social Anxiety Disorder: Recognition, Assessment and Treatment.

Leicester (UK): British Psychological Society.

(NICE Clinical Guidelines, No.

2, Social Anxiety Disorder.