Hypnotherapy for Social Anxiety

Professional hypnosis treatments for social anxiety problems at the Wombourne Clinic in Wolverhampton

What is Social Anxiety?

Social Anxiety Disorder is the fear and Anxiety you experience when you believe that people (the social group in your environment) are making a negative judgement about you, or scrutinising you for some action that you have carried out.

It is the MOST COMMON form of Anxiety experienced by people, and although most sufferers recognise that it is irrational and disproportionate to the given situation, it tends to be quite difficult to overcome by will power alone!

It generally develops in the earlier stages in a persons life with research showing that 50% of all sufferers have the condition by just 11 years of age, and 80% of sufferers developing it by the age of 20.

Social Anxiety Disorder is known by a number of different names including:

• Social Phobia
• Social Anxiety
• S.A.D.
• Fear of Being Judged

Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

The most frequent symptoms and behaviours are:

• Feeling like you are constantly being evaluated by others
• Sticking to the “rules”
• Feeling awkward in social situations
• Frequently blushing
• Stuttering when under pressure (often self-imposed pressure)
• Having Low Self Esteem
• Avoiding eye-to-eye contact
• Worried by Authority figures
• Fearing Criticism
• Frequently Feelings of Panic

You can discover if you have the symptoms associated with social anxiety by taking the social anxiety test on the Tranceform Psychology site here (opens a new window).

What Could Cause Social Anxiety?

Experiences that lead to social anxiety often stem from a variety of past and present situations that shape our perceptions and interactions.

Traumatic events, such as bullying or public humiliation, can create a lasting impression, making individuals hyper-aware of how they are perceived by others.

Family dynamics, such as overcritical parenting or lack of emotional support, may cause a person to internalise feelings of inadequacy and fear of judgment.

Additionally, societal pressures and expectations can foster anxiety in social settings, as individuals may feel they must conform to certain standards or beliefs.

Repeated exposure to negative feedback or criticism in social environments can reinforce these feelings, leading to avoidance behaviours that further entrench social anxiety.

Understanding these factors can pave the way for healing and personal growth through supportive therapeutic practices.

Hypnotherapy for Social Anxiety

Hypnotherapy has proven to be a powerful tool for individuals seeking to harness their inner strengths and resources to effectively address the challenges of social anxiety.

By encouraging self-discovery and empowerment, hypnotherapy operates in a similar vein to other therapeutic modalities.

Typically requiring between six to ten sessions, hypnotherapy for social anxiety focuses on uncovering how your past experiences, core beliefs, and values contribute to your social apprehensions.

The state of hypnosis is profoundly relaxing, providing a safe space to revisit and reframe social memories and experiences, ultimately fostering more positive responses and outcomes.

Additionally, Joan offers a comprehensive six-session support program specifically designed for social anxiety.

 Social Anxiety Hypnotherapy for Young Adults

Research into 18–25-year-olds seeking therapy found that there are a number of barriers to help-seeking including difficulty identifying the problem, concerns about stigma, preference for self-reliance and uncertainty about where to go for help.

At Wolverhampton Hypnotherapy we have developed two distinct pathways to address these specific limitations, firstly a page dedicated to hypnotherapy for young adults and secondly, a page outlining how parents can help their son or daughter access therapy without taking-over or imposing the need for therapy upon them.

CBT for Social Anxiety

If you’re unsure about undertaking a course of hypnotherapy for social anxiety then you might like to consider a structured programme of CBT with Paul who runs our main applied psychology business Tranceform.