Treating Social Anxiety Disorder with Mindfulness

It’s completely normal to feel anxious in social situations. Be it giving a speech or talking on the phone, social anxiety affects a surprisingly large percentage of the population. However, when one experiences considerable distress and an impaired ability to function in parts of their daily life, it is likely they will be diagnosed as social anxiety disorder.1 Many people with social anxiety disorder do not know that they have it. They may recognize that there is something “wrong,” but do not know what it is or what to do about it. This is where mindfulness can help. By being mindful, aware of the present moment, one can identify that they feel “some kind of way.” Through practice, rather than being self-critical, or judgmental of the anxiety-provoking situation, one can learn to accept things as they are rather than the way they “ought to be.” This, in turn, can lead to an increase in self-compassion and the reduction of social anxiety symptoms. What is Social Anxiety Disorder? Social anxiety disorder is generally understood to be characterized by a marked fear of situations in which there is potential for embarrassment or humiliation in front of others. It is important to note, it is merely the ‘potential’ for embarrassment or humiliation, not necessarily any actual negative experience. It is this fear that makes social anxiety disorder so insidious. Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms The symptoms of social anxiety disorder are gene...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Mindfulness Jon Kabat Zinn Meditation secular mindfulness Social Anxiety Source Type: blogs