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What the best way to do cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety. Books or otherwise?

I am 30 years old and have had social phobia since around high school. I sometimes leave my house but it takes lots of effort. I am enrolled in a group therapy class where I practice speeches but I heard that CBT is helpful. Whats the best way to start this therapy. Thank you.

Both anything can help.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 8:30 pm and is filed under cognitive behavioral therapy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

5 Responses to “What the best way to do cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety. Books or otherwise?”

  1. amanda b Says:
    February 17th, 2010 at 1:46 am

    Both anything can help.
    References :

  2. choccy_002 Says:
    February 17th, 2010 at 2:23 am

    Books are OK but they would be best combined with 1:1 therapy or maybe in a self-help group, as you wouldn’t be isolated.
    References :

  3. dawn w Says:
    February 17th, 2010 at 2:42 am

    books, therapy, and a visit to the doctor, who can determine if medicine would be helpful.
    References :

  4. donalore_43 Says:
    February 17th, 2010 at 3:08 am

    Social anxiety is often a subective rather than an objective feeling. To assess the situation, one must decide which of the 2 their feelings are contibuted to. real or associative? Once this is accomplished then the move to therapy or counceling can be beneficial. donalore
    References :
    I am a qmhp

  5. Advice Please Says:
    February 17th, 2010 at 3:34 am

    Social anxiety can cause these feelings, which can also lead to severe depression,
    http://www.socialanxietyinstitute.org/ds...

    There is hope; I’ve been there, and still am there, it is a long, hard struggle. I recommend
    Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cognitive_b... worked best for me, with mild anti-anxiety meds. I suffered from social anxiety for over 15 years. I’ve tried individual therapy, and group therapy and studied psychology for 10 years, as a profession, but also with the hope to cure myself.

    Depending on your comfort level, you could go to a psychologist that practices CBT and specializes in anxiety disorders, seek a group therapy, or create one. Usually those that do attend the group therapy are a bit more high functioning because as you know, it can be difficult to speak in a group.

    Another idea is to see if there are any local research studies being conducted that you could participate in.

    The program that finally worked the best for me is this one: http://www.socialanxiety.us/findinghelp…. and I was lucky enough to have a structured behavioral group to go along with it. Sometimes the people that actually attend this program come back home and form groups.

    I recommend a mild anti-anxiety med in addition to CBT therapy.

    Any questions, let me know … I can’t tell you how much this has improved my life!

    Another great website: http://www.markway.com/acceptance/menu.h...
    References :

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