Socialphobia---AdiscussiononitssymptomsandtreatmentsT-------20--------J-------20--------ThesisstatementThispresentationwillarguethatalthoughsocialphobiahasbeenaseriousmentalhealthissueallovertheworldandalsodetrimentallyaffectsalargenumberofpeople’sdailylife,theCognitiveBehaviouralTherapy(CBT)wouldbethemosteffectivewaytotreatsocialphobia.

DefinitionandsymptomsofsocialphobiaFeasibletreatmentsofsocialphobia

Contents

Aphobiaisaspecifickindoffear(Becketal,2023).Excessivefear,self-consciousnessandavoidanceofsocialsituation(Hofmannetal,2023).

Whatissocialphobia?Howcommonissocialphobia?Socialphobiaisthethirdlargestmentalhealthcareproblemintheworldtoday(Richards,2023).Lifetimeprevalence—from7%to13%ofworldpopulation(Antonyetal,2023).Millionsofpeoplearoundtheworldsufferfromsocialphobiaandrelatedconditions(Helsley,2023).Howcommonissocialphobia?

(NIMH,2023)SymptomsofsocialphobiaEmotionalPhysicalBehaviouralExcessiveanxietyIntenseworryExtremefearNervousnessBlushingShortnessofbreathUpsetstomachExcessivesweatingshakingAvoidingStayingaloneHidingEscaping(SmithandJaffe-Gill,2023)Potentialcomplications(Starcevic,2023)

Treatment1medication

BetablockersAntidepressantsTranquillisers

(Smithetal:2023)PROS:relievethesymptomsimmediatelyconvenienceandcost-effectiveCONS:calmthesymptoms,butnotsolveeasilybeaddictedFeasibletreatmentsofsocialphobiaDefinition:CBTforsocialanxietydisorderisatime-limited,present-focusedapproachwiththegoalofidentifyingandmodifyingdistortedideasandsupportingmoreadaptivebehaviorsinsocialandperformancesituations.

(Maggeeetal,2023:334)

1challengenegativethoughts

2useself-helpleafletsandbooksCognitiveBehaviouralTherapy(CBT)Treatment2CognitiveTherapy(Aldenetal,2023:864)BehaviouralTherapylearntocontrolphysicalsymptomstrainsocialskills,facethefearsrelaxationtechniquesbreathingexerciseseyecontactvoicevolumeposture

(Maggeeetal,2023:335-345)(CanadianPsychiatricAssociation,2023:35S-41S)ConclusionAlthough,ThebesttreatmentapproachforsocialPhobiavariesfrompersontoperson.Overall,themosteffectivepsychologicaltreatmentforSocialPhobiacurrentlyavailablewouldbecognitivebehavioraltherapy(CBT).References

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CanadianPsychiatricAssociation.(2023).SocialAnxietyDisorder.CanadianJournalofPsychiatry,51(Supplement2),35S-41S.Helsley,J.D.(2023).SocialPhobia/SocialAnxietyDisorder.InVanin,J.R.andHelsley,J.D(Eds.),AnxietyDisorders,APocketGuideforPrimaryCare.(PP159-166).Totowa:HumanaPress.Hofmann,S.G.,Alpers,G.W.andPauli,P.(2023).PhenomenologyofPanicandPhobicDisorders.InAntony,M.M.andStein,M.B(Eds.),OxfordHandbookofAnxietyandRelatedDisorders.(PP34-46).Oxford:Oxforduniversitypress.Maggee,L.,Erwin,B.A.andHeimberg,R.G.(2023).PsychologicalTreatmentofsocialanxietydisorderandspecificPhobia.InAntony,M.M.andStein,M.B(Eds.),OxfordHandbookofAnxietyandRelatedDisorders.(PP334-349).Oxford:Oxforduniversitypress.References

NationalInstituteofMentalHealth.SocialPhobiaAmongChildren.RetrievedJuly23th,2023from:Richards,T.A.(2023).SocialAnxietyFactSheet.RetrievedJuly20th,2023from:Smith,M.andJaffe-Gill,E.(2023).SocialAnxietyDisorderandSo