Social anxiety is an intense, disabling fear of being around people for fear of being rejected and/or judged. It is estimated that social anxiety affects approximately 7% of the population. That includes children, adolescents and adults, both male and female. 

People with social anxiety do not have anxiety when alone, or with family, or while doing tasks; it is only when they are in situations where they have to interact with people. This could be at school, work or social situations. People with social anxiety often avoid social situations - not because they don’t like people, but because the irrational fears and intense anxiety are so overwhelming. There is an awareness that the fears are out of proportion, but this understanding does not take away the fears. 

Some of the triggers for social anxiety are:
-Meeting new people in any situation
-Public speaking, or speaking at meetings or social events
-Eye contact
-Having to request something, or be assertive
-Being supervised or watched while doing a task
-Receiving lots of attention
-Receiving criticism
-Being teased
-New Situations

Some of the symptoms of social anxiety are:
-Intense fear                                        
-Embarrassment
-Nervousness                                      
-Trembling
-Blushing                                             
-Racing heart
-Sweating                                            
-Difficulty speaking
-Cold hands and feet
-Mind reading others:  thinking everyone is watching you and thinking badly of you
-Inability to maintain eye contact

Social Anxiety Treatment:
Social Anxiety responds well to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps people to change thoughts and learn new behaviors.  CBT is quite successful in a group setting. 

Conquering Anxiety provides an 8 week workshop in the Denver Tech Center for those who suffer from anxiety and social anxiety.   Conquering Anxiety is led by two licensed anxiety therapists: Bernadine Merker, LCSW; and Allison Rimland, LPC. www.denveranxietyhelp.com

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