Social Anxiety

When being around people feels harder than it looks

Social anxiety can make everyday interactions feel exhausting. You might worry about being judged, saying the wrong thing, looking awkward or embarrassing yourself, and spend a lot of time replaying conversations afterwards. You may avoid speaking up, meeting new people, making phone calls, eating around others or going to social situations altogether.

For teenagers, social anxiety can affect friendships, school and confidence. They may seem quiet, withdrawn, irritable or as though they simply don't want to join in, while underneath they could be worrying constantly about what other people think of them.

How can CBT help?

CBT can help you understand the cycle between anxious thoughts, self-consciousness, avoidance and reassurance seeking. We'll gradually work on the things that social anxiety is making harder, building confidence through experiences rather than simply telling yourself to “be more confident”.

What could change?

The goal isn't to feel completely comfortable in every social situation. It's to feel more able to be yourself without constantly worrying about how you're coming across.

You might start joining in more, speaking up, making connections and doing things you've been avoiding, with less time spent worrying about what other people think.

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