Overthinking Part 4: Social Anxiety

2022-09-08

Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell You know the feeling, you come out of a work meeting or a hangout with friends and start thinking “Why did I say that? I should have responded this way! I am such an idiot! What did he mean when he said…?” Or you think “I was the most awkward person at the party!” Or “I ove...

You know the feeling, you come out of a work meeting or a hangout with friends and start thinking “Why did I say that? I should have responded this way! I am such an idiot! What did he mean when he said…?” Or you think “I was the most awkward person at the party!” Or “I overshared, way too much personal information” or you worry “Did I hurt someone’s feelings!?” This type of overthinking can be a symptom of social anxiety disorder, it can also just be a symptom of anxiety in general. But when you overanalyze your personal relationships to the point that you are afraid of an emotional connection with another person you’re essentially slipping into a mental rut called Rumination. It’s really common and there’s a lot you can do about it. In this video we’re going to learn 4 ways to stop overthinking every social situation. 1. Learn to notice your cognitive distortions about social situations and social anxiety 2. People aren't nearly as obsessed with you as you are with yourself, social anxiety lies to you 3. Catch yourself when you catastrophize about social situations 4. Social anxiety is fueled by underlying beliefs like: I must be perfect to be accepted I must never make anyone else uncomfortable I must never make a mistake in front of another person I must never be weird You can learn to combat social anxiety by learning to challenge your thoughts.

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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.

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