SOCIAL ANXIETY & SOCIAL PHOBIA


SUPPORT GROUP

 


 

Do you feel nervous if you are asked to give a presentation, go around in a circle and introduce yourself or speak up in front of a group?

 

Does being around an authority figure affect your confidence?

 

Do you become clumsy and overwhelmed if you have to perform a task in front of someone?

 

Do you sense that others are judging your every thought, comment and opinion when you speak, or watching your every move when you sit, stand or walk?

 

Do you overreact if you are criticised or teased?

 

Dislike being the centre of attention?

 

Find small talk difficult?


If any of the above applies to you: 

 

Welcome to the world of the Social Phobic!


The Southampton Social Anxiety group runs every 2nd and last Thursday of the month between 7.30 and 9.30, just outside of central Southampton.

We are a friendly group and welcome anybody who experiences symptoms of social phobia.  In the group you will meet others who will understand you.  We will explore helpful techniques that people who have overcome Social Phobia have found useful, and meet others who now look forward to social situations that they used to dread.  We will also explore techniques used in areas such as NLP Neuro-Linguistic Programming, EFT Emotional Freedom Technique and CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.  We will look at techniques that assist you in reducing or eliminating your anxiety effecively and quickly in the short term, and the combination of all the work we do will build so that you can overcome your social phobia in the long term.
 
The group leader has overcome social phobia herself so brings a great deal of understanding to group members.  She has also had 3 years experience of running a group for people who experience anxiety in all forms, and has worked on a one to one basis with Social Phobia sufferers for over 15 years.  
 
Not everyone is ready to join a group straight away and one to one personal support by a qualified Psychologist, is offered free to anybody who finds attending the initial meeting difficult.  We are happy to help, so do not live with this, there is another way.
 
 
Join our group:
 
 
 



 

 

Experience of a Social Phobic

 

What am I doing?  I’m here again and I can’t back out now.  That would make me look such a fool, weak, pathetic, stupid.  Anyway, I know I can do this, why is it such a problem?  In a minute I’m going to have to stand up.  Will my legs hold me?  What the hell will I look like if I stand up and fall down in front of everyone?  Oh boy.

 

Okay breathe, I have to do this now.  In one minute I’m going to (providing my legs hold) stand up and walk to the front of the room.  I hope I look okay, I hope I’m not walking funny, I hope my expression looks normal.  I know I can do this, but my body just wont get that, it just turns to jelly.  My legs are wobbly, my tummy churns over and my heart wow, it couldn’t beat faster if I was about to be thrown to the lions.  This is JUST a presentation, I’ve done lots of them, so how come it doesn’t get any easier?

 

Standing here in front of these people all looking at me, expecting of me, waiting for me to make a mistake.  I can hardly breathe, how the hell am I going to speak!  I have to speak though, either that or run away and never come back and I’m not a quitter. 

 

Compose myself, look confident oh god I have to speak NOW, and my voice will tremble and they will all know I’m nervous and then they will know how weak and stupid and crazy I am. 

 

Hello everybody, I’m so pleased to be here today.  My presentation today will be on ..................