IS SOCIAL ANXIETY LIMITING YOUR LIFE?

Up to three-quarters of us experience some degree of social anxiety, ranging from mild shyness to debilitating social phobia.

In more severe cases, social anxiety can hold a person back from pursuing opportunities and relationships, as well as potentially affecting academic and career progress, says Mark de la Rey, a clinical psychologist practising at the psychiatric clinic Akeso in Kenilworth, Cape Town.

“A big part of the anxiety is around communicating one’s inner thoughts to others.

“Social anxiety becomes more concerning if you have great difficulty making your voice heard.

“If you find anxiety is preventing you from participating fully in some area of your life, this may suggest a social anxiety disorder,” Mark explains.

“In the more severe cases, where you can’t even conceive of expressing yourself – for example with your colleagues, peers, or interacting with others more generally – this could be described as bordering on social phobia. In such cases, professional assistance can help identify what the anxiety is stemming from, and with the appropriate therapy or skills, you’re often able to move past your fears. “Fortunately, there are practical skills one can learn that are often extremely helpful for overcoming anxiety. “Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) skills, for instance, may be used alone or in combination with other types of therapy according to the kind of assistance you require.”

DBT skills help manage anxiety and emotional responses.

It’s a practical process to work through the sometimes-crippling effects of social anxiety in your daily life.

“These skills are a non-apologetic way of observing and identifying what you’re feeling in those times, describing it, and deciding how to respond and participate – even though you might feel vulnerable or anxious about it. “The skill set involves learning what you need to do to manage anxiety and move past it, and skills relating to how to apply these in real life situations. “It really is possible to break through the grip of social anxiety and, once learnt, apply these skills at work, school, university, and in your social relationships, including family, friendship circle and with your partner,” Mark says.

For information, contact Netcare Akeso. Visit akeso.co.za or contact info@akeso.co.za for further information.

The Cope Therapy website (copetherapy.co.za) also contains many useful blog posts on various issues and tips relating to mental health. ●