The YCBT Services Blog

Going through a panic attack can be one of the most distressing and disruptive experiences to one's sense of safety and stability in life. Learn here how to beat panic attacks and reclaim your life! Panic attacks typically appear suddenly and escalate quickly to the point of intense fear or discomfort.

Sometimes they occur in response to recurrent triggers such as being in a claustrophobic situation, public speaking, on an airplane, etc., though sometimes they seem to ignite out of the blue.

Depression is one of the most common psychological struggles, impacting over 264 million people worldwide and almost 7% of adults in the United States (adaa.org). The most common and defining features of experiencing a depressive episode include a persistent period of low mood, sadness, and/or a loss of enjoyment and interest in your usual activities.

As of 2019, 33 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws legalizing marijuana in some form. 11 of those have laws legalizing marijuana for recreational use, in addition to the country of Canada.

One of the most common social anxiety concerns is the fear that one will appear anxious to others: being anxious about your social anxiety itself! Of course, it's not just that some sign of one's anxiety will be visible, but that it will be followed by some form of negative evaluation or judgment that can greatly exacerbate the distress experienced in a social situation.

Experiencing social anxiety in the midst of managing a chronic health condition can pose many challenges, particularly regarding developing and maintaining a strong social support system.

Feelings of doubt and insecurity regarding one's sense of belonging, acceptability and freedom to know and be known by others are often core features underlying social anxiety. These feelings and beliefs give rise to apprehension and worry regarding being judged negatively by others, and can unintentionally lead to unhelpful habits of coping such as avoiding situations, perfectionism, or people-pleasing.

One of the most insidious and painful aspects of social anxiety many of my clients describe is the feeling of being alone, disconnected, and different from others. These feelings, and the perceptions and beliefs associated with them, can both contribute to and be the result of high levels of distress and suffering in social situations.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions are often geared towards targeting the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are perpetuating this overly active avoidance system. CBT skills are focused on developing more helpful and balanced perspectives of oneself and social interactions, while learning and practicing approaching one's feared and avoided social situations over time.

While the idea of introducing yourself to someone new is a very common challenge for those who struggle with social anxiety, for many the greater and often overlooked pain comes from difficulty deepening relationships to a more meaningful level. Many clients I have had the honor of working with have reported making some progress with initiating contact with others or social activities, though get stuck with how to maintain and broaden these connections over time. Perhaps you're not sure what the "right" step is to take at a certain point in time, or you find yourself having worrisome thoughts that your gesture won't be welcomed, or it will be received as a burden. Here I will describe some of the most common stuck points I have observed in individuals with social anxiety struggling to deepen relationships, with some helpful directions on how to break through them and keep those connections building.