Social Phobia - hypnotherapy for fear of public speaking; fear of presentations, blushing...(aka Social Anxiety)

Do you...

• suffer from a fear of public speaking?
• hate making presentations?
• find it difficult to speak up at meetings?
• worry excessively about what people think of you?
• lack general confidence or self esteem?
• suffer from relationship problems?
  

As a professional and experienced hypnotherapist in Cheltenham, Social Anxiety (and the symptoms associated with it) is by far is the most common condition I treat.

Social Anxiety, also known as Social Phobia, describes a very common fear of being 'judged' or being put 'on the spot'. Sufferers can feel anxious in many different group situations, at work or socially. Symptoms of social phobia can include a sensitivity to criticism, a negative self image, fear of rejection, lack of confidence, difficulty in being assertive, blushing, stuttering, shy bladder or bashful bladder (not being able to pee in front of other people...this usually, though not always, affects men), feeling embarrassed in public or feelings of inferiority compare to others.

On a more general level, the social phobic worries continuously about how others 'see' them. Usually the social phobic is quite adept at concealing their internal anxiety, insecurity and lack of confidence from others and other people such as friends may view them as being quite confident.

As with all phobias or internal anxieties, external stress (e.g. job, work, money, relationships) will have a significant effect on the 'strength' of the anxiety within the person. The more 'stressed' the person is in their life, the worse or stronger their symptoms (for example blushing) and anxiety becomes.

Social Phobia or Social Anxiety

The following is a list of symptoms commonly associated with or caused by social phobia or social anxiety. This feelings and symptoms are MOST likely to occur when the person feels put 'on the spot'. Fear of public speaking Lack of confidence or shyness Being very quiet in groups of people or crowds Disliking being the centre of attention Performance nerves e.g. exams or interviews Being afraid of those in authority Stuttering or stammering Nervous making phone calls Worried about how others 'see you' Feeling embarrassed if somebody puts you 'on the spot' Shy bladder (Paruresis), also known as toilet phobia or 'shy pee' Shy bowel (Parcopresis), another toilet phobia describing not being able to use public toilets when others are around Blushing, fear of blushing/going red or hot flushes Fear of being humiliated Performance anxiety surrounding sex e.g. impotence or premature ejeculation Fear of eating in front of other people Fear of not being good enough or rejection by people Not going out of the house (Agoraphobia)...therefore avoiding interaction with other people...therefore avoiding feeling judged/on the spot/embarrassed

Blushing usually starts on the neck or chest and rapidly spreads to the face often creating a bit of a 'vicious circle'...there is anxiety and panic about turning red or showing signs of embarrassment, which in turn causes the sufferer to feel hot and bothered.

People that blush will almost always only blush when they feel 'on the spot'. When they feel more 'in control' or in their comfort zone or with people they know very well the symptom often improves or even vanishes for a while. Blushing is made worse if another person points it out - therefore drawing attention to it and making the person the centre of attention (exactly what social phobics fear the most).

Shy bladder syndrome (also known as bashful bladder; shy pee; toilet phobia) is all about not being able to urinate in front of others or with other people around and is a very common symptom of social anxiety. Men with shy bladder find it really difficult or uncomfortable to urinate particularly in public toilets or at work and will often try to use or cubicle or avoid the loo altogether even if they are bursting to go. They feel 'on the spot', nervous and anxious when trying to go to the toilet in public and the symptoms are often better if they have some privacy or are in a cubicle rather than standing at the urinal.

Shy bladder syndrome usually occurs in public toilets or at work, but can occur at homes that are being visited, or even your own home, particularly if you are conscious that somebody is waiting for the toilet after you.

The latest research on the subject of Shy Bladder suggests that over 4 million people suffer from Paruresis in the UK

There is also a 'number twos' equivalent of shy bladder called Shy Bowel Syndrome, or Parcopresis. Sufferers will only defecate in a number of 'safe' places (e.g. home) and be desperate to avoid using the loo in public or at work.

Both of these toilet phobias are very debilitating and can cause pain, anxiety, nervousness and frustration as well as embarrassment.

A fear of public speaking, or a fear of making presentations in front of people, is a well-known phobia in its own right called Glossophobia. However because of the nature of the fear, and the fact that again its a 'performance related anxiety', a fear of public speaking is still a part of social anxiety or social phobia.

Help for low self-esteem and social phobia "Richard, I came to see you with a cocktail of problems that included low self-esteem, anxiety and social phobia and I had been feeling that way for well over 5 years. I had tried a variety of approaches to fix these problems but none had worked. I can't tell you how much better I feel. Furthermore, rather than the effects diminishing with time, I am actually feeling better and better, hugely more confident, much more relaxed and much, much happier, almost like a snowball effect. It really is quite extraordinary. I feel as if you have given me my life back and I am immensely grateful to you. In fact it is not possible to thank you enough." Catherine, Cheltenham, 2006