What is Social Anxiety? | Social Anxiety Symptoms? | Treatment? | How to book the Social Anxiety treatment?
Nigel is an experienced UKCP and BACP Registered Psychotherapist / Counsellor, EMDR Therapist, Trauma-informed Therapist, Life Coach, Clinical Hypnotherapist and NLP Master Practitioner who has specialised in working with confidence, fear and anxiety related issues such as shyness and social anxiety in Manchester.
To book an appointment with him, or to make an enquiry, call 07463 542368 or Click here to email. Online social anxiety therapy is also available via Zoom or Skype.
What is Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety (previously known as social phobia) is an extreme fear or anxiety about being judged negatively, and feeling humiliated and embarrassed in front of other people. The resulting anxiety symptoms reduce the persons ability to function, which has the effect of further increasing the severity of their worry.
There is a strong anticipatory nature to social anxiety which can cause sufferers to begin to avoid any situation in which they think they might feel uncomfortable. This can result in a wide range of problems such as maintaining friendships, finding a partner, educational choices, attending job interviews, public speaking and career paths. It can affect almost any area of life where contact with other people is involved, resulting in a reduce quality of life. Unsurprisingly, for some sufferer this can lead to additional problems such as depression, substance abuse or agoraphobia.
Intense chronic social anxiety is often labelled as a social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety can be related to negative thinking, perfectionism, all or nothing thinking, low self esteem, low confidence. It can also be accompanied by other anxiety disorders such as generalised anxiety disorder, phobias or OCD.
The ‘fight or flight’ response and social anxiety
As someone experiences social anxiety, they are feeling the effects of the ‘fight or flight’ response. The fight or flight response is our mind and bodies natural response to a perceived threat. Its purpose is to tell us to avoid or get out of the situation. With social anxiety the perceived threat itself is most likely to be psychological in nature. e.g. making a scene, looking foolish, not being liked or accepted, appearing weak or inferior, ashamed, guilty etc.
“…by the time we become conscious of others, our brain has already organized ways to think about them.”
Louis Cozolino Ph.D
The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy, p242
Some of the other unfortunate side effects of this can be blushing, sweating profusely, shaking, feeling nauseous, light-headed, mentally ‘going blank’, difficulty thinking clearly, stuttering, pins and needles, a sense of detachment, hypersensitivity, time distortion etc.When the fight or flight response is activated, stress hormones are released into the body to enable us to either deal with or escape from the dangerous situation.The effects of the fight or flight response include an increase in our heart rate to pump blood faster to the lungs, muscles and brain. We breath more rapidly to increase our oxygen levels, our muscles tense ready for action and many functions not necessary for fighting or escaping, such as digestion or reproduction, slow or stop.
It is important to realise that all anxiety including social anxiety starts with our thoughts. We first perceive and evaluate the situation, judging it to be safe or threatening. Our brain then stimulates the release of the various stress hormones causing us to react. This initial evaluation is usually completely unconscious, which is why we often notice ourselves physically reacting before we even consciously know what we are reacting to. It is also why it can sometimes be hard to talk yourself out of anxiety because the process is already well underway before you are even consciously aware of it. It is the negative thoughts and interpretations we have about what is happening in the world around us, or other people, or our own bodily sensations, or even our own thoughts that will start the anxiety response within our body.
In some ways our minds and bodies can’t tell the difference between the thoughts about a situation and the situation itself. Therefore by simply thinking negatively,worrying, or ‘what if’-ing about an upcoming situation, you are activating the fight or flight response in exactly the same way as if you were actually experiencing it in reality.
Due to the way anxiety functions, it is difficult to fight it head on. You’ve probably tried that already and failed. In fact in some cases the more you fight and try to control the anxiety, the worse it can often get! I wonder if you could begin to imagine just how beneficial it would be for you to learn new and different ways to think and react in social situations so that your fears just faded away and no longer seemed a problem.
When you are committed to make the inner changes you need to control your anxiety, simply phone me on 07463 542368 or Click here to email to make an appointment now. If you can’t travel to me then I am also available for online social anxiety therapy, counselling and coaching via Skype.
Some symptoms of social anxiety may include:
| Breathing difficulties | Excessive perspiration | Tingling feeling |
| Tightening of the throat | Light-headedness | Hyperventilation |
| Frequent need to urinate | Muscle Tension | Diarrhoea |
| Chest pain | Sweating hands | Sleeping difficulties |
| Headaches | Neck pain | Catastrophic thinking |
| Dissociative symptoms | Depersonalisation | Aching jaw |
| Extreme exhaustion | Lack of concentration | Feeling detached from body |
| Nausea and/or vomiting | Digestive problems | Fear of being ‘found out’ |
| Pounding heart | Trembling | Short term memory loss |
| Fear of embarrassment | Ice cold feeling | Blushing |
| Choking sensation | Intense heat | Indigestion |
| Pins and needles | Fear of losing control | Fear of making a fool of self |
| Fear of going insane | Fear of having a heart attack | Feelings of inferiority / inadequacy / weakness |
| Churning/burning stomach | Muscle pain | Sense of shame |
NOTE: If you are suffering from any of the above physical symptoms then do discuss them with a doctor first to rule out any potential physical causes.
When you are committed to make the inner changes you need to control your anxiety, simply phone me on 07463 542368 or Click here to email to make an appointment now.
Common situations which often provoke social anxiety include:
- Meeting new people
- Social gatherings (weddings, parties, theatres, cinema, bars, clubs etc)
- Work meetings and presentation
- Public places (supermarkets, shopping malls, cafes etc)
- Eating in front of others
- Writing in front of others
- Presentations
- Interviews
- Examinations
- Acting or Musical Performances
- Speaking on the telephone
- Being put on the spot
- Centre of attention
When you are committed to make the inner changes you need to control your anxiety, simply phone me on 07463 542368 or Click here to email to make an appointment now.
The Social Anxiety Treatment in Manchester
The treatment is available at the Manchester City Centre practice and is custom made for your unique needs, so the exact form of treatment and number of sessions will vary from person to person depending on your needs, the severity of the problem and any other complicating factors. Most people can usually see improvements in as little as 6 to 12 one hour sessions, for more deep-rooted or complex problems, longer-term work would be required.
The overall aim of this process is to help you to experience a deep permanent change in how you think and feel in social situations. Which then allows you to feel more comfortable and at ease, and even enjoy situations which used to cause you anxiety and fear. During the process we will address whatever issues need to be dealt with to enable you to overcome your anxiety. The treatment process itself is relaxed, sensitive, respectful and non-judgemental. I have had personal experience of social anxiety, and the recovery process. Therefore I can fully understand and empathise with you every step of the way.
Examples of some commonly dealt with issues:
- Changing limiting beliefs that fuel the social anxiety, and building powerful empowering beliefs.
- Discovering and changing the perception of what is threatening.
- Disassembling of the negative feedback loops, and self reinforcing and self sustaining aspects of the social anxiety.
- Changing your perceptions of others, and what you think they think of you.
- Change what you feel about yourself and your abilities.
- Building your self-esteem, self-worth and self confidence.
- Emotional state management.
- Learning to relax/ground/centre yourself so you can stay more in the moment.
- Positively changing your perceptions of past events and future worries.
The treatment integrates my own research with a variety of therapeutic processes, including but not limited to Psychotherapy, CBT, EMDR, Gestalt Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Mindfulness, Life Coaching and Stress Management which are individually recognised as successful ways of changing peoples behaviours and perceptions, and I’m sure you can imagine the amazing benefits of combining these powerful techniques, allowing you to quickly and easily change the thoughts, emotions and behaviours you currently have about your social anxiety and social situations. So you can just find yourself changing in beneficial ways.
I am a professional fully trained, experienced accredited Integrative Psychotherapist, EMDR Therapist, Trauma-informed Therapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Life Coach, and a Licensed NLP Master Practitioner. I integrate all my skills and experience to produce a treatment that is tailored to your unique needs. So that together we can work to help you to change in the easiest ways possible.
When you are committed to make the inner changes you need to control your anxiety, simply phone me on 07463 542368 or Click here to email to make an appointment now. If you can’t travel to me then I am also available for online social anxiety psychotherapy, counselling, NLP and coaching via Skype.
What this treatment is not: The treatment is not a list of techniques, tips or tricks about social anxiety.
In reality: Social anxiety is complex, particularly if you’ve had it all your life. The road to recovery is a journey, not a single a step. There are rarely any instant fixes or magical cures, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t change, or that change is hard or takes a long time. All that is really required to change, is a little bit of committment to your own personal growth, taking ownership of your issues, putting in some effort for a while, and getting some helpful and realistic guidance from someone who has professional and personal experience with overcoming anxieties. Before you realise it you’ll be surprising yourself with what you are capable of doing.
Booking is easy
NOTE: Before booking it is very important that you get any physical symptoms diagnosed by a medical practitioner or doctor to rule out any physical causes.
I recommend booking an Initial Consultation first. This gives us the chance to begin to explore your issues and your requirements further, give you honest answers to any questions you might have and give you a realistic estimate of the number of sessions you may require.
When you are ready to make the inner changes you need, simply phone me on 07463 542 368 or Click here to email to make an appointment now.
Location
I practice from a consulting room in Manchester City Centre, near Piccadilly Gardens and the Northern Quarter. If you can’t travel to me then I am also available for online social anxiety therapy, psychotherapy, counselling, NLP and coaching via Zoom or Skype.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Consultation Fees
Session fees are paid at the time of booking.
You may pay by cash, Debit Card, credit card or online. I no longer accept cheques.
Cost when paying per session:
See the consultation fees page for session prices and discounts.
Upcoming Workshops
Why not enquire about the next full day anxiety workshop, held regularly in South Manchester.
Corporate Work
My services can also be combined and tailored to your group or corporate needs, and range from EAP (Employee Assistance Programme – one to one therapy, counselling or coaching sessions) through to bespoke group training, workshops, and outdoor activities and retreats.
Useful Social Anxiety and Social Phobia Website Links
- Social Anxiety UK Forum
- Anxiety UK
- Social Phobia World – Social Anxiety Manchester Forum
- Social Anxiety Support – Social Group: Manchester Central Social Phobia Group
- LeadingLight – Support and guidance for people suffering with social anxiety, depression and related self-esteem issues
- Manchester Social Phobia Group
- Chorlton Anxiety Group
Nigel Magowan
BSc(Hons) UKCP Reg. MBACP AccMCCP DABCH GHR SQHP MHA AMPM
UKCP and BACP Registered Psychotherapist and Counsellor, EMDR Therapist, Life Coach, Licensed NLP Master Practitioner, Ecotherapist, and Accredited Supervisor
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Clients come to me from all over the North West of England, see below for a list of some of the areas covered:
Greater Manchester: Chorlton ~ Didsbury ~ Fallowfield ~ Eccles ~ Irlam ~ Salford ~ Worsley ~ Burnage ~ Levenshulme ~ Withington ~ Whalley Range ~ Denton ~ Reddish
North Trafford: Davyhulme ~ Firswood ~ Flixton ~ Old Trafford ~ Stretford ~ Urmston.
South Trafford: Altrincham ~ Broadheath ~ Brooklands ~ Dunham Massey ~ Sale ~ Timperley
Stockport: Bramhall ~ Bredbury ~ Cheadle ~ Gatley ~ Heaton Moor ~ Heaton Norris ~ Heaton Chapel ~ Heaton Mersey ~ Hazel Grove ~ Marple
Cheshire: Alderley Edge ~ Handforth Dean ~ Knutsford ~ Mobberley ~ Wilmslow ~ Lymm ~ Macclesfield ~ Frodsham ~ Holmes Chapel
Nigel is an experienced UKCP and BACP Registered Psychotherapist / Counsellor, Life Coach, Clinical Hypnotherapist and NLP Master Practitioner who has specialised in working with confidence, fear and anxiety related issues such as shyness and social anxiety in Manchester City Centre.
