Promoting understanding

Providing information and resources for those with Social Anxiety and Social Phobia

Welcome to the Social Anxiety Alliance UK home page!

Our charity mission is to foster a society in which social anxiety is widely understood, with easy access to appropriate information, support and treatment so that no one has to face social anxiety alone.

Our goals:
(1) Help those affected by Social Anxiety find the information and resources they need.
(2) Increase public awareness and empathy towards social anxiety.
(3) Promote and improve access to appropriate and effective treatment.

What is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety involves an excessive fear of social situations. Sufferers will often fear being embarrassed, or worry about being negatively evaluated by others. Anticipatory anxiety and situational avoidance are common, and individuals may endure social situations with a high level of discomfort. The scope of the anxiety may be focused on specific types of social situations or generalised to almost any social encounter. Please see here for technical definitions.

People with social anxiety are sometimes advised to just face their fears, with the idea that this will automaticaly improve things – but it’s often not that simple. People with social anxiety already face their fears on a regular basis (they have to!), but treatment and recovery can require a more complex approach due to the nature of the disorder. Getting better usually works best as part of a comprehensive cognitive-behavioural (CBT) approach, which focuses on changing multiple aspects of thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

See our page What is CBT?

Please see further information at Social anxiety – Find Out more

NICE Social Anxiety Disorder Guidance: Recognition, Assessment and Treatment

NHS Publications and Treatment

The NHS NICE guidance recommends a psychological therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT for short). It should be a type of CBT that has been specifically designed to treat social anxiety disorder. See our pages on What is CBT and What the NHS offers

The guidance recognises that attending a doctor’s appointment or making phone calls can be very difficult for those with SA. It provides a series of recommendations to make communication and appointments easier. You can also self-refer here

Please see our pages listing some NHS web pages and guidance.

How does it feel to have Social Anxiety

While virtually everyone knows what it is like to feel self-conscious in some situations, those with social anxiety disorder suffer to an extent that can limit life opportunities and significantly affect mental and emotional health.

Anxiety symptoms may include some or all of the following: • racing thoughts • blushing • feeling hot or sweating • trembling or shaking • disjointed speech • palpitations • tension in head, neck, or shoulders • inability to think of what to say • extreme self-consciousness

Sufferers often have significant anticipatory anxiety beforehand and may ruminate about what happened afterwards. The anxiety experienced is often out of all proportion to the circumstances involved. It is something beyond shyness or a lack of social confidence.

Feared situations are frequently so difficult that sufferers will avoid them or endure them under significant distress.

Getting better

Getting better is completely possible. Although some techniques have more clinical evidence for their efficacy, there is also an element of individual trial and error. You should experiment and find the techniques that work best for you.

Although it may be difficult, the growth, freedom and improved self-confidence that come from gently pushing through your fears will be worth it.
Be pleased with any progress that you make. Every journey begins with small steps, and it’s important to give yourself credit for small wins, even if you think they are things that others find easy.

The good news is that there are many effective ways social anxiety can be reduced and treated, including
What the NHS offers, Finding a private therapist, Self help books, Support groups and forums, Courses and practical help, NHS webpages and guidance.

Please also see our A-Z of pages.

Providing links to self-help resources

Providing information on accessing NHS and private therapy

Collaborating with UK mental health charities to develop social anxiety information and resources

Interesting reads

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