Suppose you think of having an enjoyable time with your friends and family members, but you worry about social stress. If you have difficulties visiting other people, attending a social gathering, or being in crowded places, you are not alone. Many people in the US live with a social anxiety disorder. Such individuals struggle with an intense fear of embarrassment, rejection, and humiliation during social interactions. Foothills at Red Oak Recovery can help you learn how to manage this disorder during the holidays. At our treatment center, we are proud to provide holiday anxiety treatment. To learn more, contact our team at 866.300.5275 today.
Evidence-Based Therapies for Social Anxiety
People battling social stress can consult professional therapists who use proven techniques to help their clients overcome mental problems. In most cases, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can work for anxiety disorders, depending on the circumstances. During the sessions, your therapist helps you discover and comprehend the negative behaviors, thoughts, and concerns in your everyday life.
CBT addresses the issues that may cause anxiety, helping you change the perspective. If you feel your behaviors and thoughts affect how you interact with others in a social setting, do not hesitate to consult experts in anxiety treatment.
Other relevant services you can access in rehab include:
- Substance abuse treatment
- Disordered eating treatment
- Treatment for co-occurring disorders
- Trauma treatment program
- Process addiction treatment
Techniques for Stress Management
While many people may be unaware of this, learning and practicing stress management techniques can reduce worry. That is why rehab centers teach their clients the skills, enabling them to manage anxiety when facing stressful life situations.
One of the standard techniques is relaxation. If you are in a stressful situation, take a rest. You can also consider participating in engaging activities, such as:
- Reading a book
- Going for a walk
- Physical exercise
- Engaging in a hobby
- Watching a movie
Meditation, mindfulness, and yoga are also great ways of reducing stress and social anxiety symptoms. Mindfulness allows you to be aware of the present moment and focus on what is happening around you. The practice calms and relaxes your body, enabling you to handle anxiety and stress. It improves your concentration, decision-making, attention, confidence, and mental clarity.
Avoid Substance Abuse
Many teens think drinking alcohol in a social setting, especially during the holidays, can help them gain confidence and deal with stress. However, drug and alcohol use only offers numbing effects. Long-term use can lead to dependency and affect many areas in your life, including relationships, school, and career.
Furthermore, using drugs and alcohol can cause panic attacks and life-threatening consequences for individuals with anxiety disorders. So, how can you best handle stress without resorting to substance abuse?
Mental health professionals recommend seeking a customized anxiety treatment program that can alleviate your condition by teaching you how to navigate stressful situations.
Set Boundaries
If your friends or family members invite you to an event, understanding its nature can help you plan and know how to deal with potential challenges.
For example, if you try to avoid alcohol, attending a party where your friends can offer drinks can cause you to relapse. Identify the obstacles you may encounter in a particular event and decline the invitation if you believe you cannot handle the triggers. Understand when to say no.
Knowing the nature of an event and your limitations helps you prepare and set boundaries for coping with the situation. You can also limit the number of events to attend and consider alternative activities, such as volunteering your time and skills.
Find Treatment at a Professional Anxiety Treatment Center
If you’re suffering from social anxiety during the holidays, it’s important to learn how to manage your symptoms. At Foothills at Red Oak, we help teen boys understand how to cope with their anxiety and what the root causes of their anxiety are. Fortunately, there is a range of strategies that we can teach you at our adolescent anxiety treatment center. For instance, our therapeutic options include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Experiential therapy
- Equine-assisted therapy
- Wilderness therapy
In addition, we know that family can play a significant role in the presence of anxiety, especially around the holidays. As a result, we are proud to provide family therapy as part of our treatment programs. Through family therapy, you and your loved ones will be able to understand your condition, and your loved ones will receive tools to support your recovery from social anxiety.
Contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery Today
If you are battling a social anxiety disorder, our adolescent recovery center can help. You can talk to one of our therapists to avoid denying yourself enjoyment during social interactions. Rehab experts can relate to your experiences, and they are ready to help you recover. Contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery at 866.300.5275 today to schedule your initial consultation with our therapist.
