Tirrell De Gannes, PsyD.
Let’s break it down.
Stevie Stanford, a psychologist at Driftwood Recovery.
Michela Buttignol for Verywell Mind / Getty
SAD is the second most commonly diagnosed anxiety disorder, affecting nearly 15 million adults in the U.S.
There aretwo types of social anxiety disorder:generalized and non-generalized.
People with generalized social anxiety disorder feel intense anxiety in all or most kinds of social interactions, saysDr.
Lauren Cook, Pasadena-based clinical psychologist and author of Generation Anxiety.
Non-generalized social anxiety, on the other hand, is triggered in specific social tweaks.
Its often performance-based, says Dr. Cook.
Like, when youre giving a speech, answering a question in class, or eating at a restaurant.
ANTs can further fuel anxiety and create a vicious cycle.
They occur almost instantaneously and feel incredibly convincing, even though they are divorced from reality, adds Sosnowsky.
ANTs aren’t the only cognitive biases people with SAD experiencethere’s also thespotlight effect.
Strategies for Overcoming Social Anxiety
The good news is social anxiety can be managed and overcome.
Dr. Cook and Sosnowsky note thatcognitive behavioral techniquescan be helpful.
Daniella Marchetti, a Miami-based clinical psychologist.
Self-Help Techniques
Medication and therapy aren’t the only treatment options for social anxiety disorder.
Taffel likes to do the5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise.
I also look for the weird and the whimsical, she says.
By the time I cycle through, Im usually able to smile and feel calmer, she says.
But doing so only reinforces your anxiety and avoidance behaviors, says Dr. Cook.
The good news is its a treatable condition.
If youre having symptoms, its important to get help at the earliest.
The sooner you reach out, the sooner youll start feeling better.
2024;150(4):440-463. doi:10.1037/bul0000410
