Social Anxiety Treatment
La Jolla Recovery provides a science-based approach to treating social anxiety disorders.
Some of our rehabilitation programs incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), among others. These approaches offer tangible changes and outcomes for individuals struggling with mental health challenges. Experience healing on the sun-kissed beaches of San Diego while addressing social anxiety and embracing freedom through highly effective therapies.
Overcoming our fears, especially those directed towards others, requires confronting them head-on. How do we cope with feelings of being threatened by those around us, their judgments, or their opinions of us? How do we overcome the phobia of people and manage social anxiety?
When self-help strategies prove ineffective, seeking professional mental health treatment becomes the preferred path to overcoming anxieties and other mental health issues. Experienced professionals provide the necessary tools and techniques to manage anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns effectively. Treatment plans are tailored to individual needs, offering access to various resources such as psychotherapy, talk therapy, lifestyle modifications, support groups, and more.
Social anxiety treatment offers a powerful avenue for individuals to gain insight into their emotions and develop coping strategies to achieve personal growth and social integration. While self-help methods may provide temporary relief, they cannot replace the long-term benefits of a comprehensive treatment plan, such as the one offered at La Jolla Recovery.
Treating Social Anxiety Disorder
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
When Regular Anxiety Becomes Long Lasting or Affects the Body Significantly
If we reflect on our personal history, we’ve all experienced some level of anxiety when in front of a group of people, wondering what to do. We’ve gone through a series of thoughts and physical reactions, such as sweating, trembling, impulsive behavior, avoidance habits, changes in tone of voice, and repetitive, clumsy movements.
Furthermore, our actions and thoughts can lead us to fear a situation disproportionately because we’re exposed to the possibility (but not necessarily the case) of negative judgment from others. This anxiety can prompt us to avoid or escape from the situation, and we often feel relief once we’re gone, but also regret the missed opportunity.
When this anxiety becomes an infrequent or isolated reaction and instead becomes a pattern present in a significant number of social situations, we move towards a specific problem commonly known as Social Anxiety or Social Phobia.
The Disabling Effect of Anxiety
Social anxiety, like almost everything else, is a matter of degree. It can significantly impact our jobs, families, and personal activities, sometimes even becoming disabling. Before reaching this point, it’s crucial to educate yourself about social anxiety disorder or seek professional help.
At La Jolla Recovery, we recognize social anxiety as a key component of dual diagnosis treatment. This approach is essential for maintaining a healthy and fulfilling life. If left untreated, social anxiety can lead to various negative behaviors, including addiction and unwanted thought patterns. Don’t hesitate to contact La Jolla Recovery for any questions or concerns you may have about social anxiety disorder or someone you care about.
5 Patterns of Social Anxiety
It’s crucial to comprehend patterns of behavior that may well represent many individuals and serve as examples of Social Anxiety. These patterns explain why it’s highly recommended to address this type of issue:
– Shyness
– Discouragement
– Relationship challenges
– Need for approval from others
Am I just shy or is there more?
The first pattern represents shy individuals who place a high value on their work. However, they often find themselves spending a significant portion of their working hours in public settings, which can lead to anxiety. This anxiety can make them appear unsociable or even rude. In extreme cases, the level of anxiety can cause them to avoid greeting and interacting with customers or communicate so anxiously that they seem angry or rude.
This pattern of social anxiety can result in repetitive behaviors. It can even lead individuals to believe that this is their natural state and their defining personality trait. This behavior can hinder their professional growth and exacerbate their feelings of fear and apprehension towards others, creating a cycle that amplifies the problem. Some of the associated issues include addictions, eating disorders like anorexia, gambling, isolation, and other inhibiting behaviors.
Why am I so Discouraged?
Anxiety in Relationships
In a second pattern, people who are deeply discouraged, their life is not as they had thought and believed that their age no longer allows them many opportunities. Their emotional and social life is the central axis of their dissatisfaction. They are afraid of being criticized or judged negatively by others in their surroundings. The way to “solve” this is to get away, isolate themselves, avoid the social contacts that make them feel so bad. The result is that their well-being decreases by not having relationships, social and intimate contacts that are so important for the self-esteem and satisfaction of anyone. Again, a loop needs to be broken.
Our next pattern tells us about the relationship with the opposite sex. The person starts a new job where most colleagues are of the opposite sex. They have breakfast in a small “office environment” or similar that requires close communication, and it is also a company that has a working model where everyone is on the same open floor without compartments that separate them. Every work morning represents torture, sweats, acting awkward, talking excessively, or not saying anything. Again, social anxiety is now pertaining to sex.
Unresolved Anxiety in Adolescence
Covering Anxiety with Achievement
Another pattern has to do with adolescents. In this individual example, we have an absolutely brilliant boy with high academic achievements. He is an intelligent, creative boy, eager to learn, with diverse interests, somewhat shy, and very kind. However, he spends most of his recesses alone reading a book in the yard or staying in class.
You may tell yourself that you don’t like to play, that you prefer to read, that you are a “loner,” that you are better off this way. But if we dig a little deeper, we will discover that after this self-imposed isolation, there is fear, fear that colleagues will reject him, fear of not being accepted as he is. Social Anxiety Disorder is one of the most frequent psychological disorders in childhood and youth (García-López, Piqueras, Díaz-Castela, 2008). Detecting it and dealing with it is essential. If a child or adolescent or an adult frees themselves from their social fears, it can change the course of their life.
This last example of a pattern of social anxiety has to do with a pattern that is also very frequent. The person is successful at work, and their career has been brilliant, with excellent projection and results. They are a person with good social skills, but there is a problem that does not allow them to feel good, satisfied, or satisfied, which causes enormous suffering and anxiety. The great need for approval from others leads to a perfectionism that is hardly sustainable for anyone. This level of self-demand is exhausting, and one lives in a permanent state of dissatisfaction and self-criticism.
Social Phobia: Fear of Others
Awareness to Social Phobia
It is crucial to detect and understand Social Anxiety or Social Phobia. There are techniques we can implement to deal with it, but without a doubt, if we find ourselves unable to do it alone, it is convenient to have help.
At La Jolla Recovery, we can provide a program to attend to your mental health needs specific to your background and culture and make sure that untreated anxiety can be addressed in a supportive, inspiring, and safe environment. If coming from out of state to San Diego, such as New York or Texas, we can accommodate the travel and make sure the transition is smooth and cared for in a humanized and caring fashion.
At La Jolla Recovery, we firmly believe in the efficacy of various therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), among others. Additionally, we recognize the importance of medication-assisted treatment when necessary to minimize relapses and severe mental health lapses.
If you or a loved one is grappling with a dual diagnosis, such as alcoholism or addiction to substances like heroin or benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax), we specialize in addressing both conditions concurrently. Our therapeutic approaches are meticulously tailored to address each individual’s unique thought patterns, emotional responses, and behavioral tendencies.
To further enhance our care, we offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) when clinically indicated. This holistic approach minimizes the risk of relapses and optimizes long-term recovery outcomes. Our dedicated team is committed to utilizing every available mental health and addiction treatment tool to facilitate sustainable healing for our clients.
When you or a loved one is navigating the complexities of dual diagnoses, such as co-occurring substance use disorders involving alcohol or drugs like heroin or benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax), we specialize in addressing both conditions simultaneously. Dual diagnoses present unique challenges that necessitate an integrated approach to care. With our expertise in treating complex instances where mental health concerns overlap with substance dependence, we develop individualized recovery plans that ensure neither condition is overlooked.
At La Jolla Recovery, we possess the knowledge, experience, and compassionate support required to help you regain stability and reclaim your life from the grip of addiction and mental health struggles. Remember, you are not alone—our doors are always open to walk alongside you on this journey toward healing and hope.
Science-Based Therapy at La Jolla Recovery for Social Anxiety Disorders
One of the many therapies we provide at La Jolla Recovery is Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment. It has been scientifically proven to be highly effective for social anxiety.
The data compared different types of psychological treatment and found that individual cognitive behavioral therapy was the most effective. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of treatment that focuses on the relationships between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It helps people challenge irrational fears and overcome avoidance of social situations.
At La Jolla Recovery, offering evidence based therapies for attending mental health disorders such as social anxiety is what sets us apart.
We love imparting scientific techniques for mental health such as anxiety that work and have long-lasting effects after treatment. Reach out to us to know more about our social anxiety disorder treatment in San Diego.