You might be surprised just how many people have social phobia.
It could be as much as 10% of the population. The condition itself is not
one where the person shouts on the top of the rooftop, "I have social
phobia."
It has only been fairly recently, ten to twenty years that this condition
has
become known. Once it was passed of as shyness. However, you'll agree that
social phobia is far more intense than just shyness.
There are quite a few ways of treating social phobia. For a start
acknowledging you have it is a good beginning.
I am only a lay person so I speak to you as such. The treatment I had was
cognitive. i.e. changing the ways I thought and reacted in social situations.
This was part of a three-week course, run by our Anxieties Disorders Unit,
here in Christchurch, New Zealand. The only such unit in the whole country.
It consisted of one week of the course, one week off to practice what we had
learnt and then another week further advancing our confidence in social
situations. Slowing down your breathing can help reduce the symptoms of
panic. (best to get a cassette tape that will help you with breathing
exercises that you can practice at home).
The group I was in was taken by two very skilled social phobia therapists,
who constantly aided us in discussion and exercises. For instance at
lunchtime we were called on to go out to lunch as part of the course. Prior
to this we would each in turn give the group a brief outline of where we
were going to go. Then everyone reported back how their lunchtime dining
went. Some even dined with each other. Everyone was at different levels so a
meal of cut sandwiches out in the local gardens might be enough of an
exposure task while others might have to tackle something that would fit
their appropriate stage.
We also had video workshops where we were filmed giving speeches. We had to
sit and watch these videos. This was done to encourage us to finally accept
ourselves and realise more fully that the thoughts we had were not confirmed
by the rest of the group of social phobia people. This was group dynamics at its best. It sounds threatening but these courses build up from doing the
basics.
There are drug treatments and also support groups like ours. In fact we had
a recent meeting with one of the Anxieties disorders therapists
speaking.
Also you can self heal by setting a task and gradually working towards its
end. Okay, as an example say a weekly dance, that you may wish to go to. The first step might be just walking past the door when it is on. The next
week you may go in for a couple of minutes. Each step is a small one but
leads on to a greater one. Talking to a woman/man or asking her/him to dance might
be about step 7. What I am trying to say in a long-winded fashion is that
you don't have to fully accomplish your goal at one go. Build up gradually.
remember always to give yourself a pat on the back when you succeed. I would recommend using Self Heal, and cognitve
behavior treatment. Join a support group; likely some of the folks will know of courses and options etc and it is good to be amongst fellow
"sufferers".
We have a Citizens Advice here. You
might have access to information at your local community centre, or of
course the internet. Likely there will be a social phobia group in your
district. Your local doctor also may be able to help. I hope you can take something of worth from this article.
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