Help for Social Anxiety in Sydney

[Lexine]

Hi everyone,
I am a clinical psychologist and researcher at Macquarie University. I think it's great that so many of you are posting on this forum and supporting each other.

Within the Centre for Emotional Health at Macquarie University (Sydney) we have a research clinic where we are trying to learn more about social anxiety, and how best to help people who experience it. Many of you have spoken openly (and bravely!) about the loneliness you experience, and the sense that life is passing you by. One of the goals of our clinic is to develop treatment programs to help people develop practical skills and strategies to cope with their anxiety, so they are able to get out and do the things they want to do with their life. We offer both individual and group treatments, which our clients find really beneficial as they have the opportunity to meet other people with similar concerns, and practice the skills with each other while they are learning them.

Our treatments are based on cognitive behavioural therapy, and so far our results have been very promising! Our research shows us that after treatment, people experience less symptoms of social anxiety (e.g. panicky feelings, shaking, blushing, sweating, mind blanks, dwelling on negative thoughts), and have been able to make significant improvements to their quality of life (things like finding a new job, getting back to study, or joining a sporting or social group). Our clients often report feeling more self confident and happier in their own skin.

I think it is really important that people are aware that there are steps you can take to get help for social anxiety. As some people on this forum have commented, being proactive is important! It takes a lot of courage to take that first step, but from what I have seen from my clients, it is worth it. Most of our treatment programs are supported by research funding, so we are able to offer them at very low cost to you (and some programs are free).

If you want to find out more about our programs, you can visit our websites:
CASP - Combined Alcohol & Social Phobia Treatment Program
Centre for Emotional Health - Department of Psychology - Macquarie University
Phone us on 9850 8670 or email me at [email protected]

Wishing you all the best!
-Lexine

 

[melsmood]

Hi Lexine

I think it is fantastic that SA is being researched and CBT is becoming mainstream - my GP was even talking about it. Offers a lot of hope to sufferers. Alas I am in Brisbane, otherwise I'd check out your programs. As it is I have my first appointment with a psychologist next week, and I've never felt more hopeful about addressing this problem.

 

[Lexine]

Hi melsmood,
Thanks for your comment! It's really great to hear that you have taken steps to address your anxiety.
all the best with your psychologist appointment
Lexine

 

[Noca]

Hi Lexine, I plan to do exactly what your doing for a living. I am going to school to be a clinical psychologist who treats mainly anxiety patients in a research environment using CBT exposure therapy. I hope one day to make a difference in Canada as you are in Australia. Good luck with your work.

 

[Fear of people]

Hi everyone,
I am a clinical psychologist and researcher at Macquarie University. I think it's great that so many of you are posting on this forum and supporting each other.

Within the Centre for Emotional Health at Macquarie University (Sydney) we have a research clinic where we are trying to learn more about social anxiety, and how best to help people who experience it. Many of you have spoken openly (and bravely!) about the loneliness you experience, and the sense that life is passing you by. One of the goals of our clinic is to develop treatment programs to help people develop practical skills and strategies to cope with their anxiety, so they are able to get out and do the things they want to do with their life. We offer both individual and group treatments, which our clients find really beneficial as they have the opportunity to meet other people with similar concerns, and practice the skills with each other while they are learning them.

Our treatments are based on cognitive behavioural therapy, and so far our results have been very promising! Our research shows us that after treatment, people experience less symptoms of social anxiety (e.g. panicky feelings, shaking, blushing, sweating, mind blanks, dwelling on negative thoughts), and have been able to make significant improvements to their quality of life (things like finding a new job, getting back to study, or joining a sporting or social group). Our clients often report feeling more self confident and happier in their own skin.

I think it is really important that people are aware that there are steps you can take to get help for social anxiety. As some people on this forum have commented, being proactive is important! It takes a lot of courage to take that first step, but from what I have seen from my clients, it is worth it. Most of our treatment programs are supported by research funding, so we are able to offer them at very low cost to you (and some programs are free).

If you want to find out more about our programs, you can visit our websites:
CASP - Combined Alcohol & Social Phobia Treatment Program
Centre for Emotional Health - Department of Psychology - Macquarie University
Phone us on 9850 8670 or email me at [email protected]

Wishing you all the best!
-Lexine

"Hello Lexine" I have suffered from SP for quite some time now and I feel as though it has taken over my life for one thing. However it is nice to talk to someone like yourself who actually understands what people are going through who suffer from SP.

I use to have a normal life until all of the sudden I started to become anxious around people for no good reason. It was like it came on all of the sudden with no apparent cause.

I even ended up becoming unemployed due to this social phobia of mine and haven't held down a full time job since the year 2005 due to this. I prefer to stay at home these days in my comfort zone due to the fear that people may stare at me in everything that I do in life and I cannot tolerate being criticised in anyway by people as it makes me feel as though I am useless or a failure.

I fear going back to work due to the dreaded thoughts that go around in my mind knowing that returning back to work for me will be nothing more than a nightmare as working is also part of socialising as well... and I know for a fact that I will not be able to concentrate on my job because I will be worrying more about what people may be thinking about me instead.

And those tension headaches what comes with it do not help either. I am also housebound due to SP and I find even the simpliest tasks in life are a struggle for me such as collecting the mail or taking out the garbage due to the fear of my neighbours noticing me or just staring at me as though I am weird or something like that.

It would be nice to hear back from you Lexine and maybe you could help me overcome this life ruining phobia of mine if possible.

 

[mdjww]

i have checked it’s really great

 

[SnowWolf]

I've done a lot of work with CBT both in group and one on one sessions, and it hasn't personally been effective for me so I don't think it'd be worth me trying this. But I know it does work for some people, so I think it's good that you're letting us Sydneysiders know about this, thank you.

 

[sabbath]

Our treatments are based on cognitive behavioural therapy, and so far our results have been very promising!

ACT is better than CBT

 

[PennyLane]

I would really like to try this but I leave Sydney in 7 weeks!

 

[IJustWantMyLifeBack]

"Hello Lexine" I have suffered from SP for quite some time now and I feel as though it has taken over my life for one thing. However it is nice to talk to someone like yourself who actually understands what people are going through who suffer from SP.

I use to have a normal life until all of the sudden I started to become anxious around people for no good reason. It was like it came on all of the sudden with no apparent cause.

I even ended up becoming unemployed due to this social phobia of mine and haven't held down a full time job since the year 2005 due to this. I prefer to stay at home these days in my comfort zone due to the fear that people may stare at me in everything that I do in life and I cannot tolerate being criticised in anyway by people as it makes me feel as though I am useless or a failure.

I fear going back to work due to the dreaded thoughts that go around in my mind knowing that returning back to work for me will be nothing more than a nightmare as working is also part of socialising as well... and I know for a fact that I will not be able to concentrate on my job because I will be worrying more about what people may be thinking about me instead.

And those tension headaches what comes with it do not help either. I am also housebound due to SP and I find even the simpliest tasks in life are a struggle for me such as collecting the mail or taking out the garbage due to the fear of my neighbours noticing me or just staring at me as though I am weird or something like that.

It would be nice to hear back from you Lexine and maybe you could help me overcome this life ruining phobia of mine if possible.

OMG I found some one who is like me.... I'm so scared this is happening o me now... I'm in the same place but still working when I can..

if you want to talk let me know

 

[Lexine]

Hi Noca - Thanks for your comments and good luck with your training!

To "Fear of people" and "IJustWantMyLifeBack", thanks also for your posts. When your anxiety around people is so strong that you are housebound I imagine you must sometimes feel hopeless. But I would encourage you to take steps to get help for your anxiety. In my experience people in similar circumstances have been able make significant life changes by facing their anxieties one day at a time and making daily small changes that gradually add up to big changes.

If you live in the Sydney area I would encourage you to email us at [email protected]
or call (02) 9850 8670 and we can talk more with you about the treatment options available to you.

If you live outside of Sydney, the Australian Psychological Society provides an Australia-wide referral service to help you find a psychologist. Their contact details are 1800 333 497 and Australian Psychological Society : About the APS Find a Psychologist Service. One of the best ways to get help is to contact your family doctor or GP to obtain a referral to see a psychologist or clinical psychologist. As part of recent medicare reforms, you may be eligible for 6 - 12 rebated psychological treatment sessions. This means you will only need to pay the "gap" in cost for each treatment session.To access these benefits you just need to ask you GP about a "mental health plan" referral. You can find out more at: http://www.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/Medicare_Fact_Sheet2.pdf

If seeing a psychologist face to fact is not possible for you, there are also some good online treatment options available. A Sydney organisation called CRUFAD (Ph. 8382 1730) provides a good online treatment program for social phobia. This can be a great way to get started. Visit their website for more information about how to enrol: Conditions We Treat

Thanks again for sharing, and I wish you all the best with you recovery.
Lexine

 

[Fear of people]

Hi Noca - Thanks for your comments and good luck with your training!

To "Fear of people" and "IJustWantMyLifeBack", thanks also for your posts. When your anxiety around people is so strong that you are housebound I imagine you must sometimes feel hopeless. But I would encourage you to take steps to get help for your anxiety. In my experience people in similar circumstances have been able make significant life changes by facing their anxieties one day at a time and making daily small changes that gradually add up to big changes.

If you live in the Sydney area I would encourage you to email us at [email protected]
or call (02) 9850 8670 and we can talk more with you about the treatment options available to you.

If you live outside of Sydney, the Australian Psychological Society provides an Australia-wide referral service to help you find a psychologist. Their contact details are 1800 333 497 and Australian Psychological Society : About the APS Find a Psychologist Service. One of the best ways to get help is to contact your family doctor or GP to obtain a referral to see a psychologist or clinical psychologist. As part of recent medicare reforms, you may be eligible for 6 - 12 rebated psychological treatment sessions. This means you will only need to pay the "gap" in cost for each treatment session.To access these benefits you just need to ask you GP about a "mental health plan" referral. You can find out more at: http://www.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/Medicare_Fact_Sheet2.pdf

If seeing a psychologist face to fact is not possible for you, there are also some good online treatment options available. A Sydney organisation called CRUFAD (Ph. 8382 1730) provides a good online treatment program for social phobia. This can be a great way to get started. Visit their website for more information about how to enrol: Conditions We Treat

Thanks again for sharing, and I wish you all the best with you recovery.
Lexine

Hi Lexine and thankyou for reading my post by the way. However I still find it stressful being around other people believing as though people think there is something wrong with me because I'm shy in nature and I don't have many friends which only makes the anxiety worse for me and only pushes me further away from people anyway.

Staying at home is like a comfort zone for me as there is no stress and no tension headaches and no worrying about what others are thinking of me neither.

I find it hard just to go out to the mailbox or even take the garbage out in the fear of being noticed by my neighbours which is quite pathetic of course and I'm scared to find a job as well as that involves being around other people and I find it to stressful.

I know I have a problem and that's a good start admitting that I do, however I'm ashamed and embarrassed because of it.

 

[Lexine]

Hi "Fear of people"

Thanks for your reply. From what you are saying it sounds as though social anxiety is quite paralysing for you, and is limiting many aspects of your life. In my experience it is very common to feel ashamed or embarrassed about having this problem, which makes sense because fear of being judged is what social anxiety is all about. So feeling embarassed to talk about it or get help is part of the problem itself.

It's really important to remember a few things. Firstly, shyness is a really common problem. Approximately 13% of the population will suffer from social phobia at some point in their life (that's approximately 2.73 million Australians). So it is not so unusual! In fact, psychological issues in general are so very common that chances are most people around you have either experienced psychological problems themselves, or know someone who has. It is very human and normal to get a bit stuck sometimes.

Secondly, having social anxiety does not make you fundamentally different from everyone else. We all experience shyness and fears of being judged sometimes, this is a universal human experience and makes sense seeing as we have evolved as social creatures so it is important to us to feel that we fit it and are connected with others. What is different in social phobia is the extent to which these concerns are causing you problems and preventing you from living your life.

While I understand how difficult it is to move out of your comfort zone, I would encourage you to do so, as avoidance tends to only fuel the fire of anxiety. Have you (or others) noticed that the longer you avoid your fears, the harder it becomes to face them? Have you had any experiences of success from facing your fears and discovering it was not as bad as you anticipated? Working on your social anxiety is likely to be stressful in the short term, but would the long term benefits be worth it? It is may be worth asking yourself how you would like things to be different, and what you would like your life to look in 5 years time. Focussing on your goals for the future can help you to get through the short term discomfort and stress of moving outside your comfort zone.

If you would like to talk more about how our treatment programs might be able to help you, email me on [email protected]

all the best
Lexine

 

[Danielle from Sydney]

Hi Everyone....new to the forum so thanks for having me!

I've recently found out about my diagnosis after seing a Psychologist from (Associated Counsellors - www.counsellingsydney.com.au). I read about Social Anxiety Disorder on their site and after an interview they confirmed my fears.

I have had six sessions and feel like I am making good progress. But I hope it lasts. I am a bit worried without supervision I will go back to my old ways and hide out at home!

Anyhow. Love the site.

PS this is the article i was talking about that I read on social phobia that made me realise i had it....Social Phobia / Anxiety Symptoms & Treatment

xo Danielle

 

[Lexine]

Re: Build Social Confidence without alcohol

Hi all,

Just want to let you know that we are still offering free psychological treatment to people who are socially anxious at drink at harmful levels (14 or more standard drinks per week for women, 29 or more standard drinks for men) at the Macquarie University Centre for Emotional Health.

Do you find it hard to socialise or is socialising hard without a drink?

Do you find alcohol helps you fit in? Do you drink your way to confidence?

Do you need alcohol to meet people? But find yourself embarrassed in the morning?

Is it becoming difficult to cut down or control your drinking?​

If this sounds like you, call (02) 9850 8670, e-mail [email protected] or visit Home - Combined Alcohol & Social Phobia Treatment Program for more information.

We look forward to hearing from you. Regards,

Combined Alcohol & Social Phobia (CASP) team
Macquarie University

 

[Lexine]

UPDATE:

Just wanted to let you all know that as part of our research (at Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University) we are now also offering FREE EXPERT PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT for social anxiety and problem drinking at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown.

You will benefit from proven cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) strategies to help manage social anxiety and control your drinking. You will receive up to 10 sessions with an experienced and understanding clinical psychologist.

To find out more about participation at either our North Ryde or Camperdown site, call us (02 9850 8670), email us ([email protected]) or visit our website:
Home - Combined Alcohol & Social Phobia Treatment Program

All the best
Lexine ::

 

[Lexine]

UPDATE:

We are coming to the end of this trial - 2011 will be the last year this opportunity is available.

So now is the time to find out whether you could benefit from this free cognitive behavioural treatment program for social anxiety and problem drinking. The program involves 10 individual sessions with an experienced and understanding clinical psychologist.

To find out more about participation at either our North Ryde or Camperdown site, call us (02 9850 8670), email us ([email protected]) or visit our website:
Home - Combined Alcohol & Social Phobia Treatment Program

All the best
Lexine

 

[hoddesdon]

I did the course mentioned in the first post of this thread (not the drinking one mentioned in later posts). That was in the first half of this year. I do not know which one of the staff Lexine is - I suppose she may not reveal the information either.

 

[Lexine]

I did the course mentioned in the first post of this thread (not the drinking one mentioned in later posts). That was in the first half of this year. I do not know which one of the staff Lexine is - I suppose she may not reveal the information either.

Hi there,

Thanks for your post, I hope you found the course useful.

As for your comment - I am a clinical psychologist and researcher within the Centre for Emotional Health - which is where these courses are run. I work primarily on the Combined Alcohol & Social Phobia program, which may explain why you didn't come across me when you did the other program earlier this year. You view my staff profile on our website: Home - Combined Alcohol & Social Phobia Treatment Program

I hope that helps to reassure you that I am legit! I totally understand your caution, it is very hard to know over the internet.

All the best,
Lexine

 

[hoddesdon]

No, I was not questioning your bona fides - I was just interested whether I had encountered you on the course.