#social-phobia

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fromPsychology Today
14 hours ago

The Drama of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Faith is a significant part of treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as humility. Just continuing to live is a struggle for many diagnosed with OCD.
Psychology
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

It's Time to Rethink the "Anxiety Drives PDA" Narrative

PDA is not solely anxiety-driven; it shares traits with ADHD and ODD, suggesting a more complex relationship with demand avoidance.
#mental-health
fromPsychology Today
3 weeks ago
Mental health

When Asking for Help Feels Unsafe

Asking for help can feel unsafe, especially for young Black athletes facing immense pressure and personal challenges.
Medicine
fromPsychology Today
12 hours ago

From a Sliver of the DSM to the Whole Patient

Everyday psychiatric practice often relies on a narrow diagnostic framework, missing key symptoms and the patient's broader context.
Mental health
fromFast Company
13 hours ago

Why the future of mental healthcare is team-based

Team-based care improves mental health treatment outcomes by integrating multidisciplinary teams to address complex conditions effectively.
Social justice
fromPsychology Today
7 hours ago

Resilience and Reconstruction in Practice

A long-term approach is essential for supporting displaced individuals, emphasizing identity continuity and meaningful work for resilience.
Public health
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

I hid my heart disease symptoms from my wife then I almost died'

The Independent provides critical journalism on various issues, emphasizing the importance of accessible reporting without paywalls.
#social-anxiety
Exercise
fromPsychology Today
5 days ago

Shame Attacking: Overcoming a Lifetime of Social Anxiety

Social anxiety can be treated effectively through techniques like shame-attacking exercises, which challenge individuals to confront their fears.
Exercise
fromPsychology Today
5 days ago

Shame Attacking: Overcoming a Lifetime of Social Anxiety

Social anxiety can be treated effectively through techniques like shame-attacking exercises, which challenge individuals to confront their fears.
fromwww.npr.org
3 days ago

'How are you using AI?' Your therapist should ask you that question, experts argue

"We're not saying that AI use is good or bad, just like we wouldn't say, substance use is necessarily good or bad, or consulting with a friend about something is good or bad."
US news
Mental health
fromSilicon Canals
11 hours ago

Psychology says the adults most likely to end up in therapy aren't the ones who had dramatic or obviously painful childhoods - they're the ones who grew up in households where everything was technically fine, nobody was cruel, and something essential was quietly missing in a way that took decades to find the words for - Silicon Canals

Emotional neglect in seemingly fine childhoods can have profound effects, leaving individuals feeling their inner world doesn't matter.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
23 hours ago

Psychology says adults who have no close friends aren't necessarily antisocial or unlikable. Many of them learned in childhood that being vulnerable leads to pain, and they grew up assuming that keeping people at a distance is safer - Silicon Canals

Many people appear self-sufficient but struggle with deep-seated fears of vulnerability due to early attachment experiences.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
15 hours ago

Why We Stay in Relationships That Subtly Erode Us

Incrementally diminishing relationships persist due to human attachment to unpredictability and familiarity, despite emotional neglect and pain.
Medicine
fromPsychology Today
3 days ago

The Problem With 'Medically Unexplained' Symptoms

Many patients suffer from unexplained symptoms despite normal tests, and emerging research offers new insights into persistent physical symptoms and treatment options.
Social justice
fromPsychology Today
3 days ago

The Psychology of Apology in High-Stakes Failure

Sam Bankman-Fried framed the FTX collapse as mismanagement while publicly apologizing and denying intent, reflecting self-justification and reputation management.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
7 hours ago

When Trauma Awareness Stops at the Hospital Door

Chronic health conditions significantly impact psychological well-being, yet healthcare providers often neglect this aspect for both patients and themselves.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
12 hours ago

Neuroscience reveals that the calmest person in any crisis isn't naturally fearless - their brain learned to delay panic because their childhood required them to be functional before they were allowed to be afraid - Silicon Canals

Calmness under pressure is a learned response, not merely a personality trait or temperament.
US news
fromwww.npr.org
6 days ago

AI in the mental health care workforce is met with fear, pushback and enthusiasm

AI tools are increasingly adopted in mental health, raising concerns about job replacement and the quality of care.
Relationships
fromIndependent
2 days ago

Asking for a friend: I can't keep an erection during sex and sometimes can't get hard at all. I'm not depressed or on medication, but I do watch a lot of porn

Erectile issues do not define masculinity; men are whole humans with real anxieties beyond physical performance.
#anxiety
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
1 day ago

There's a generation of people who were taught to apologize for their needs so effectively that as adults they experience wanting something as a form of aggression against whoever might have to provide it - Silicon Canals

Many adults associate expressing needs with guilt, viewing requests as impositions rather than natural interactions.
#emotional-regulation
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
5 days ago

Why the Narcissistic Relationship Crash Is Often Delayed

Narcissists can initially charm partners, but relationship satisfaction declines over time due to narcissistic rivalry.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
3 days ago

The Two Thoughts That Quietly Ruin Adult Children's Lives

Struggling adult children often face analysis paralysis due to the fear of uncertainty, hindering their progress and confidence.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
5 days ago

Compulsive Sexual Behavior and Paraphilias

Differential diagnosis between compulsive sexual behavior and paraphilias is crucial for effective treatment and reducing stigma.
Mindfulness
fromPsychology Today
2 weeks ago

Seen, Unseen, and Still Anxious: The Psychology of Texting

Texting anxiety stems from unanswered messages creating mental loops of uncertainty, leading to repeated checking and worry.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
4 days ago

Time-Outs Work, if We Can Learn to Do Them Right

Well-implemented time-outs lead to positive outcomes and healthier relationships in adults who experienced them as children.
Mindfulness
fromPsychology Today
3 weeks ago

When the World Feels Scary, These 2 Questions Can Help

Grounding techniques effectively manage anxiety and enhance personal agency by focusing on the present and what can be controlled.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
3 days ago

The Impact of Social Expectations on Men's Depression

Depression in men often manifests as disconnection and shame, influenced by internalized masculinity ideals, and can be addressed through therapy.
#emotional-intelligence
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
4 days ago

There's a generation of men who became their mother's therapist before they turned twelve, and they grew into adults who can read a room in seconds but have no idea how to sit in one without scanning for danger - Silicon Canals

Boys often learn emotional intelligence as a defense mechanism due to emotional parentification, impacting their adult relationships and emotional health.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
6 days ago

People who are extremely good at reading a room often have no idea how to simply be in one. The scanning never stops. The social radar that everyone admires is the same system that prevents them from ever fully arriving anywhere, because arriving would require turning it off. - Silicon Canals

Emotional intelligence often acts as a surveillance system that hinders genuine connection rather than enhancing it.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
2 weeks ago

People who rehearse conversations in their head before making a phone call aren't anxious in the way most people assume. They learned early that spontaneous speech was dangerous because the wrong word at the wrong time could change the temperature of an entire household, and now every unscripted interaction feels like walking into a room without checking the exits first. - Silicon Canals

Rehearsing conversations is a learned response to emotional unpredictability in childhood, not merely a sign of social anxiety or introversion.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
4 days ago

There's a generation of men who became their mother's therapist before they turned twelve, and they grew into adults who can read a room in seconds but have no idea how to sit in one without scanning for danger - Silicon Canals

Boys often learn emotional intelligence as a defense mechanism due to emotional parentification, impacting their adult relationships and emotional health.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
6 days ago

People who are extremely good at reading a room often have no idea how to simply be in one. The scanning never stops. The social radar that everyone admires is the same system that prevents them from ever fully arriving anywhere, because arriving would require turning it off. - Silicon Canals

Emotional intelligence often acts as a surveillance system that hinders genuine connection rather than enhancing it.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
2 weeks ago

People who rehearse conversations in their head before making a phone call aren't anxious in the way most people assume. They learned early that spontaneous speech was dangerous because the wrong word at the wrong time could change the temperature of an entire household, and now every unscripted interaction feels like walking into a room without checking the exits first. - Silicon Canals

Rehearsing conversations is a learned response to emotional unpredictability in childhood, not merely a sign of social anxiety or introversion.
#therapy
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
5 days ago

When Therapy Explains Before It Understands

Therapists may misinterpret clients' experiences by relying on familiar frameworks, potentially overlooking genuine feelings and differences.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
5 days ago

When Therapy Explains Before It Understands

Therapists may misinterpret clients' experiences by relying on familiar frameworks, potentially overlooking genuine feelings and differences.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
5 days ago

Not everyone who keeps a small social circle is protecting their energy. Some of them built a wide one once, watched it reveal exactly how many people would show up during an actual emergency, and quietly restructured around the answer - Silicon Canals

Small social circles often result from past crises that reveal true friendships, rather than a preference for fewer connections.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
6 days ago

Why You Struggle With Trust (Even When You Want to Connect)

Difficulty trusting others often stems from learned protective patterns rather than a lack of desire for connection.
#trauma
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
6 days ago

Psychology says the adults who seem the most indifferent aren't cynics - they've simply been disappointed so many times that their nervous system reclassified hope as a threat - Silicon Canals

Indifference may stem from a nervous system response to past trauma, where hope becomes associated with pain and disappointment.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
6 days ago

Psychology says the adults who seem the most indifferent aren't cynics - they've simply been disappointed so many times that their nervous system reclassified hope as a threat - Silicon Canals

Indifference may stem from a nervous system response to past trauma, where hope becomes associated with pain and disappointment.
#loneliness
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
5 days ago

There's a specific kind of social performance I've perfected over twenty years of having no close friends. I can walk into any room, be warm and engaged for three hours, drive home in complete silence, and feel more alone than I did before I arrived - Silicon Canals

Social performance can mask deep loneliness, as individuals may connect outwardly but feel isolated internally.
Mental health
fromSilicon Canals
6 days ago

Psychology says the loneliness of having no close friends is not the same loneliness of being isolated - it is the loneliness of being consistently almost known, of spending years in relationships that go up to the edge of real intimacy and stop, and the stopping is always the same stopping and it is always your own hand on the door - Silicon Canals

Real connection requires depth, not just quantity, in relationships to avoid feelings of isolation.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
5 days ago

There's a specific kind of social performance I've perfected over twenty years of having no close friends. I can walk into any room, be warm and engaged for three hours, drive home in complete silence, and feel more alone than I did before I arrived - Silicon Canals

Social performance can mask deep loneliness, as individuals may connect outwardly but feel isolated internally.
Mental health
fromSilicon Canals
6 days ago

Psychology says the loneliness of having no close friends is not the same loneliness of being isolated - it is the loneliness of being consistently almost known, of spending years in relationships that go up to the edge of real intimacy and stop, and the stopping is always the same stopping and it is always your own hand on the door - Silicon Canals

Real connection requires depth, not just quantity, in relationships to avoid feelings of isolation.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

What Happens When We Simultaneously Seek and Avoid Intimacy?

Loneliness has escalated to a public health crisis, significantly impacting mortality rates and emotional well-being.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
6 days ago

Psychoanalysis Is a Type of Exposure Therapy

Psychoanalysis and exposure therapy both involve gradual exposure to feared stimuli, with relationships being the primary focus in psychoanalysis.
Mental health
fromIndependent
6 days ago

Living with agoraphobia: 'At my worst, I couldn't step outside my front door - I felt trapped'

Karina Mongan, 22, from Dublin, battles severe agoraphobia, which has previously left her housebound, and is determined to overcome it again.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
6 days ago

Mental Health Attorneys and Psychiatric Interventions

Interventions are confrontations by family or friends to compel treatment, but they can lead to unexpected adverse events.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
1 week ago

Not everyone who avoids asking for help is proud. Some of them asked once, received it with a lecture attached, and learned that the cost of support was a small erosion of standing they could never quite earn back. - Silicon Canals

Asking for help can lead to unintended consequences that affect relationships and self-perception.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

What You Should Know About Rejection-Sensitive Dysphoria

RSD is a reaction to perceived criticism, particularly in individuals with ADHD, leading to immediate emotional responses like rage or depression.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

3 Signs You're Carrying Someone Else's Anxiety

Empathy can lead to emotional overload for highly empathic individuals, causing them to absorb and internalize others' emotions.
#adhd
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
3 weeks ago

Treating Psychosis: Why We Aren't Hearing Our Patients

Healthcare providers often fail to listen to patients with psychosis, allowing their own anxiety and certainty to override genuine curiosity about the patient's lived experience and perspective.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
4 weeks ago

When Anxiety Is Really Fear in Disguise

What people call anxiety is often the brain's fear system activating to protect us, sometimes overreacting when no immediate danger exists.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
4 weeks ago

How Beliefs About Depression Can Harm

Beliefs about depression's nature significantly impact treatment outcomes, with biological explanations potentially hindering recovery through reduced agency and pessimism.
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

The Deception of Depression

Depression is insidious. For people suffering from depression, joy is elusive. Depression is not only a general feeling of sadness or being down and out. It is a serious condition and needs attention. People suffering from depression cannot just get over it and move on. They need support, healing, and to discover the epicenter of their pain.
Mental health
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Anxiety as a Symptom of Medical Illness

Anxiety can be a symptom of medical illness or medication side effects, making early physician evaluation essential when anxiety appears suddenly.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

The Obsessive-Compulsive's Misguided Quest for More Proof

Obsessive individuals seek certainty in choices, but life offers no definitive answers; reassessing decisions and improving relationships provides freedom.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Diagnosing mental health conditions need not be a case of yes/no | Letters

If we treat ADHD as binary (you have it or you do not), we are missing the possibility that we all lie somewhere on a continuum with diagnosed ADHD towards one end (and perhaps an ability to focus and concentrate at the other). A diagnosis of ADHD then depends on where the line is drawn. I suggest that this line has been moved in recent years, so that a large group of people have been caught up in the positive ADHD group, who would not have been previously.
Mental health
Mental health
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

What I see in clinic is never a set of labels': are we in danger of overdiagnosing mental illness?

Ancient texts describe mental suffering resembling modern disorders, showing such conditions are timeless while psychiatric labels and diagnostic boundaries continue to change.
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Dealing with the Fear of Looking Dumb

In some cases, fear of looking dumb is a symptom of social anxiety disorder (APA, 2022), and it can be associated with perfectionism and fear of failure. It can show up in issues such as imposter syndrome, or feeling like a fraud and worrying about not rising to the expectations of a high-achieving position. It can also be related to stereotype threat, when someone's membership in a marginalized group leads them to worry that they will act in a way that confirms negative stereotypes.
Mental health
Mental health
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

The rise of rejection sensitive dysphoria: My chest feels like it's collapsing'

Shame from past teasing and perceived criticism can trigger severe anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive behaviors that persist for decades and significantly impact daily functioning.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

When a Diagnosis Becomes Your Identity

Diagnosis can reduce shame and enable treatment but should not become an immutable identity that limits curiosity, growth, and personal responsibility.
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Avoidance Is Not Always About Triggers

Many people going through grief, infertility, loss, or prolonged stress find themselves quietly withdrawing from family gatherings, holidays, baby showers, weddings, and even casual get-togethers. Often, this is explained in terms of not wanting to get triggered. That explanation is valid. Triggers are real, and the emotional pain can be sharp, sudden, and last for hours. Framed this way, stepping back can feel like a very good form of self-care.
Mental health
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

How We Define Psychosis Matters

Psychosis is a spectrum condition where reality becomes confusing or unclear, causing hallucinations and delusions that many people experience to varying degrees.
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

The Depression Clinicians Don't Talk About

They arrive on time, think clearly, and care about their clients. Outwardly, everything seems fine. In private, though, things can feel very different. A clinician's depression may not show up as clear despair. More often, it feels like emotional numbness, quietly withdrawing, or slowly losing interest in things that once mattered. Pleasure fades, curiosity lessens, and the work goes on, but it feels heavier and less alive.
Mental health
Mental health
fromMedium
4 years ago

5 Signs That Your Biggest Fear is 'Being a Burden'

Covert codependency (fawning) keeps people connected by preventing others' worry through self-sufficiency and suppressing personal needs to avoid being a burden.
fromwww.bbc.com
2 months ago

'What if I just started shouting?' - when to worry about intrusive thoughts

"If I had an intrusive thought, I'd restart the walk from the bus stop," she says. "I was genuinely terrified that if I didn't redo it and something happened, it would be my fault".
Mental health
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Psychology's Misdiagnosis Problem

AI can substantially reduce diagnostic errors in psychology by synthesizing complex, multi-source information that humans struggle to weigh accurately.
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

When Tragic Stories in the News Trigger Health Anxiety

Tunnel vision happens when your mind zooms in on a single "threat cue" and filters out everything else. In this case, the threat cue might be: "He was young." "It was cancer." "It seemed sudden." "He probably didn't see it coming." Your mind grabs onto these details and begins building a narrative: "Cancer is everywhere." "People are dying young all the time." "It's inevitable that I'll get something serious." "If I do get sick, there will be nothing I can do."
Mental health
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Why Are We Still Calling People 'Schizophrenic'?

Schizophrenia is an unclear, stigmatizing, and clinically unhelpful diagnosis that should be retired in favor of more precise, useful terms.
Mental health
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

When it comes to mental health labels, we need to tread lightly | Letters

Social inequality and hardship drive much mental ill-being; cautious, neurodiversity-informed therapeutic approaches and careful use of diagnostic labels can aid mentalisation and prevention.
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