Short answer: Social anxiety is an ongoing fear of being judged, rejected, embarrassed, or negatively evaluated in social or performance situations. Therapy can help you understand avoidance and safety behaviors, practice new responses, and move toward meaningful relationships and activities.
Common signs of Social Anxiety
- Intense fear of embarrassment or negative evaluation
- Avoiding conversations, groups, meetings, school, or social activities
- Strong self-consciousness before, during, or after interactions
- Physical anxiety symptoms in social or performance situations
- Replaying interactions or seeking reassurance afterward
What can social anxiety feel like?
Social anxiety can make ordinary interactions feel high-stakes. You may worry about saying the wrong thing, appearing anxious, being watched, or being judged. Some people avoid situations completely, while others attend but rely on safety behaviors such as rehearsing, staying quiet, monitoring their body, or reviewing the interaction afterward.
How can therapy help with social anxiety?
Treatment may focus on the relationship between feared predictions, avoidance, safety behaviors, and short-term relief. Your clinician may use exposure-based practice, ACT skills, and other evidence-based strategies to help you approach social situations with more flexibility rather than waiting to feel perfectly confident.
When does social anxiety overlap with OCD?
Social anxiety and OCD can both involve distress, doubt, avoidance, and reassurance-seeking, but the patterns are not identical. A clinician can help clarify whether intrusive thoughts, rituals, fear of judgment, or several concerns are contributing to what you are experiencing.
Social anxiety therapy in Arizona
BrainBody OCD Counseling offers in-person counseling in Scottsdale and secure online counseling throughout Arizona when clinically appropriate. During a consultation, you can discuss the situations that feel difficult, your goals, and which clinician and care format may be a good fit.
Explore BrainBody OCD Counseling treatment options
BrainBody OCD Counseling may use specialized approaches such as ERP, ACT, and I-CBT depending on your symptoms, goals, and treatment plan. Learn more about the options below.