Scared of Socialising

Many of us get a bit nervous when meeting new people, especially if we’re alone in a large group of strangers. We worry about what we’ll say, how we’ll look, but in the end most of us can deal with this kind of situation and even enjoy it.

But for others it’s not so easy. People suffering from social phobia have a deep-seated fear of social situations. At best they find it impossible to enjoy these occasions, and at worst they may go to great lengths to avoid them. In a world where socialising with friends and family and ‘networking’ for your career are hugely important, this kind of problem can make it impossible to live a normal life. People with social phobia may avoid promotion at work, and worry that others think they are boring. In extreme cases this can lead to depression.

Luckily there are ways to cope. These include therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, social skills training to boost confidence, and even exposure therapy, in which people are exposed to frightening situations in a controlled way to help them deal with their fear.

Join us to find out more about social phobia and how it can be tackled. Our speaker, Dr Jennifer Wild, is a clinical psychologist at the Institute of Psychiatry, and after her talk you’ll get the chance to ask your own questions.

Event organised by:
The European Dana Alliance for the Brain

Speakers

Jennifer Wild, Institute of Psychiatry
Facilitator: Alan Stevens

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