The Uses of Virtual Reality in Social Anxiety Treatment
Dr. Rosen and Dr. Spinner recently presented a session on The Uses of Virtual Reality in Social Anxiety Treatment for the National Social Anxiety Center. View the presentation on The Uses of Virtual Reality in Social Anxiety Treatment. We Can Help If you are experiencing social anxiety or would like to learn more about available […]
Vanessa Finkelman, Psy.D – Consult The Expert On Social Anxiety
This month, I talked with Vanessa Finkelman, Psy.D. As a postdoctoral fellow, she will be treating various anxieties and mood disorders at our center, beginning in September. One of her special interests is in working with those who are challenged by social anxiety, which is the fear of being judged or negatively evaluated in social […]
Post-Pandemic Social Anxiety: Simple Steps To Start Living Again After Covid
My colleagues and I have noticed a dramatic increase in anxiety and anxiety-related disorders over the past two pandemic years. While apprehension is a typical response during times of strife, as we return to more normal lives, many people have been caught off-guard to realize how uncomfortable they now are in social situations – especially if they were never fearful before.
What We Have Learned From 2021
No one can deny that 2021 has been a momentous year. It has had a mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly for sure. It has at times been frightening, confusing, comforting and educational. We have witnessed a very unusual presidential election, a subsequent denial by some of the validity of the election and an unheard of polarization of our peers and lawmakers. Most critically, we have endured a gift that keeps on giving; the novel coronavirus that has killed countless people world-wide and more fellow Americans than we would have ever anticipated. We have had to learn the meaning of the word epidemiology as it relates to health and wellness. Unfortunately, we now know explicitly what a spike protein is and looks like. More than ever before we have been influenced (for good and bad) by the internet and social media. Although we have been witness to conspiracy theories in the past, but this year has certainly been a boon time for them.
Social Anxiety in Toddlers
Toddlerhood is defined as the age range from 12 to 36 months. During this period, a child’s emotional and cognitive development grows by leaps and bounds, as do their social skills. This also coincides with the time when children are likely to go into a daycare environment or head off to preschool. As they engage more often with other children and adults, it may also be the stage when a toddler’s social anxiety begin to emerge.
Not All Addicts Are Alike
Since the cocaine scourge of the ’70s and ’80s and the ongoing tragedy of the opiate epidemic, the American public has become painfully aware of the societal impact of addiction. Because of the prevalence and lethality of fentanyl-laced opiate overdoses almost everyone knows of a family that has lost a loved one. And despite all the time, effort and money invested in eradicating tobacco we now have to confront the growing addiction to nicotine through the expanding use of nicotine vape pens.
How Social Anxiety Impacts Higher Education and Career Choices
Everyone has moments of fear over their performance on things like college exams and projects or they worry whether they’ll please their boss or colleagues. For those who suffer from social anxiety, however, concerns like these may not only impact their ability to learn, they may also lead them to make different education or career choices than they would actually prefer.
Treating Social Anxiety Disorder with Virtual Reality Therapy
Humans are social creatures. We bond with friends, engage with coworkers, and pair up in relationships. In many ways, we need interaction with other people but, for individuals with social anxiety disorder, being in a social setting can be a huge source of stress and anxiety. This is where virtual reality therapy can help.
Compassion Focused Therapy for Social Anxiety
People who experience social phobia are prone to being self-critical and angry because of how their anxiety affects them. Compassionate-focused therapy helps these individuals reverse those thoughts through compassionate engagement.