What are phobias? Well, in a psychological context, they are a persistent fear of objects, animals or situations, which a person will go to great lengths to avoid. While some of us dislike spiders, some affected by arachnophobia – the fear of spiders – will be terrified by them to the point where they may
[read more…]
Prom night is supposed to be a fun occasion, a rite of passage to mark the end of High School. Yet, for teenagers with social anxiety, prom night may look more like an ordeal, and the temptation to skip it irresistible. Unrealistic expectations, the idea that nothing less than perfection will do, and peer pressure…
We are all Hypocrites by Kyle MacDonald on April 9, 2016 This week on the Confident Mind, I talk about how I’m a hypocrite. In fact, we all are. I explore the ways that hypocrisy can be a useful driver of behaviour and attitudinal change, and also a hurtful and unhelpful way of thinking about…
Is Our Internal Voice a Social Anxiety Friend or Foe? 30 September 2014 Cognitive Based Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Social Anxiety / Kyle MacDonald We may not always be aware of it, but we go about our daily lives against a background of running commentary. Some of it is practical and useful like “I’ve got…
How Mindfulness Helps Reduce Social Anxiety – Infographic by Kyle MacDonald in Mindfulness Did you know that studies have proven how practising mindfulness for 10 minutes a day helps reduce anxiety in less than 8 weeks? So, how can you use mindfulness to your advantage? First you can incorporate it relatively informally into your every…
Is Inferiority Complex Linked to Social Anxiety? 19 February 2015 Inferiority Complex / Kyle MacDonald Whether it’s about Greece’s economic woes or the Socceroos winning football’s Asian Cup, journalists love to bandy around the phrase “inferiority complex” as if it’s catch-all statement to imply doubt and uncertainty. But the term has its origins in the…
Afraid to Pick Up? … Phone Phobia & Social Anxiety by Kyle MacDonald in Social Phobia A quite common but not very talked about part of Social Anxiety Disorder for a lot of people is a fear of using the phone. I’ve tended to think recently that maybe this isn’t talked about very much because…