How to Treat Social Anxiety Disorder With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, is a mental condition that is characterized by irrational fear when confronted with social situations. Most people with social anxiety disorder fear being judged or scrutinized by others in social settings. There are several ways to treat social anxiety disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most common treatments.

Things You'll Need

• Assistance from a psychotherapist
• Support group (optional)

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Instructions

Use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Overcome Social Phobia

• 1

  Get diagnosed by a mental-health professional. While you can research your symptoms online to determine whether they meet the requirements for social anxiety, only a qualified professional can make the diagnosis.

• 2

  Find a regular cognitive behavioral therapist to treat your social anxiety disorder. Your doctor should be able to refer you to a therapist that can treat your condition.

• 3

  Create a plan for treatment with your therapist.

• 4

  Learn to think differently. The cognitive part of cognitive behavioral therapy teaches you how to reprogram your mind to think positive thoughts about yourself and social situations. This serves to take control of your fear.

• 5

  Practice coping statements. One way to retrain your mind is to repeat positive statements when you start to feel anxious.

• 6

  Start exposure therapy gradually. The behavioral component of cognitive-behavioral therapy tries to change how you react to certain situations. Exposure therapy exposes you to the situations that cause anxiety while you are in a safe environment.

• 7

  Participate in a structured-therapy group. Often, exposure therapy is done in a small group in which those with social anxiety disorder can practice social situations that provoke fear.

• 8

  Increase the intensity of exposure therapy when you and your therapist feel you are ready. By taking on steadily larger challenges, you may begin to desensitize yourself to your own fear.

• 9

  Search for a therapist on the NACBT website (see Resources below).