What are some effective techniques to help with trauma related social anxiety?

Good afternoon. My name is Joanna and I am a counsellor here at BetterHelp. Thank you for reaching out with your question which I have read closely.

If I could first start with addressing your title of gaining some effective techniques with trauma related social anxiety.  I think it would be fair to say that dealing with anybody's trauma is something counselors would work with in a sensitive and safe manner. I think it is a real privilege to get an understanding of what it is you have experienced so that together we could work out a way to address the distressing symptoms that you are experiencing.

I think it feels important to identify as you have done already that social anxiety can originate from a few different places. As you have stated social anxiety can come from a place of trauma, talking therapies can really help with unpicking some of these delicate issues and so begin to make sense of what has happened. There can also be a learnt behavior stemming back from childhood and observing others around you behave in a way that maybe you have taken on board. There is as well sometimes a more physical issue with the amygdala which is an area of the brain which processes with fear and your G.P will be able to advise further investigations.

I do believe that from time to time we can all have issues with social anxiety or phobias. Especially coming out of a pandemic it can feel like we have lost the art or practice of interacting back with people. It feels though you relate your feelings back to past experiences with your father. This must have been very difficult and can also be painful when we have not made sense as to why a person has behaved that way towards us. I do believe that therapy can help with working through these difficult questions. 

In the meantime though there are several techniques you can apply to ease some of the symptoms you may be experiencing such as feeling hard to talk when nervous. I would recommend breathing exercise for stress, this can be found on the NHS website www.nhs.uk. There are also many helpful apps to help you practice guided breathing when feeling anxiety.

I hope that this has gone a small way to answer your question, I really do hope you feel able to continue to reach out and have some therapy sessions to help to work towards feeling more in control.

Please do take care

Joanna