Socially Anxious and Isolated: A Gestalt Approach to the Social Fears

While Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is incredibly common, it is also quite misunderstood. Social anxiety is marked by a persistent fear of being judged, criticized, or humiliated in one or more types of social settings. Those with social anxiety can experience intense emotional and physical reactions that often manifest as avoidance of gatherings, public speaking, or even casual interactions. These behaviors are an effort to self-protect from anticipated discomfort, but have the consequence of diminishing one’s quality of life. In this blog post, we’ll explore the emotional and psychological processes of social anxiety and how Gestalt therapy, practiced by our staff, can provide support.

Gestalt Solutions to Social Anxiety Symptoms

Anticipatory Anxiety

Many individuals with social anxiety experience fear not only during social situations but also long before a situation is set to occur. This anticipatory anxiety can be overwhelming, as people mentally replay potential worst-case scenarios. The constant worry about the future can create a feeling of impending doom, and the anxiety can intensify as the upcoming event draws near. From the perspective of Gestalt therapy, the tendency to focus on the future signifies a disconnection from the present moment. As a result, individuals become ensnared in their thoughts and emotions, often losing touch with the reality of the current moment. This cycle of stress further heightens the fear of judgment and rejection, amplifying the overall anxiety experienced. By focusing on the present moment, Gestalt therapy helps individuals with social anxiety to become more in tune with their current experiences, allowing them to identify the origins of their anxiety, its physical manifestations, and the triggers that cause it.

Fear of Rejection or Ridicule

The pain of experiencing social anxiety comes from one’s internal struggle between the desire to be genuine and the fear of rejection or judgment. Individuals with social anxiety often feel compelled to wear a facade or act in a way that conforms to social norms, leading to a feeling of inauthenticity and disconnection from themselves and others. Gestalt therapy directly addresses this disconnect by aiming to increase awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and actions in the present moment. This heightened awareness empowers them to let go of their 'false self', allowing them to be more in touch with their more authentic selves. In this way, you can become less consumed by anxious thoughts about others' perceptions of you.

Past Experiences Shaping Present Fears

Many individuals who struggle with social anxiety often have unresolved emotions from the past, which significantly contribute to their present fears. For instance, negative experiences during childhood or adolescence, such as being bullied or humiliated in front of peers, can have a lasting impact on one's emotional well-being. Gestalt therapy refers to these lingering emotional issues as 'unfinished business,' and they often manifest as fears related to social interactions in the present. Gestalt therapy is designed to assist clients in addressing these unresolved emotions by bringing them into the present and guiding them through an exploration of how past experiences continue to shape their current perceptions and behaviors, often with the use of an “experiement.” These can include practicing real-life social scenarios and discussing hypothetical situations that may trigger anxiety. By engaging in experiential exercises, individuals are able to integrate their feelings and behaviors, which slowly heals the emotions of the past experiences. Through this therapeutic process, clients can effectively integrate their emotions, find closure, and feel an increased ability to be authentic in social settings.

The Inner Critic: Overcoming Negative Self-Talk

Social anxiety is often accompanied by a harsh inner critic that amplifies feelings of inadequacy. This negative self-talk, which often manifests as thoughts like “I’m not good enough” or “I’ll embarrass myself,” becomes a barrier to connecting with others in a genuine way. Additionally, people with social anxiety may also experience “self-monitoring,” where they are hyper-aware of their behavior, fearing every gesture or word will be scrutinized. Gestalt therapy frequently incorporates creative interventions such as role-playing and dialogues to externalize and confront the inner critic. For instance, clients are often encouraged to enact a conversation between themselves and their critical inner voice, which can help them gain insight into the nature of the critic—it is an internalized pattern that does not accurately reflect their true self. This particular technique has been shown to effectively reduce the influence of self-criticism, empowering individuals to reestablish a more compassionate and genuine relationship with themselves. A key focus is on increasing awareness of these internal voices and helping individuals differentiate between their authentic feelings and the judgments of their inner critic. In doing so, clients are able to challenge negative thought patterns and reduce the grip of self-criticism.

Conclusion: Seeking Gestalt Therapy for Social Anxiety

Gestalt therapy provides a holistic and experiential approach for treating social anxiety, emphasizing the individual's present experience rather than solely focusing on past trauma. This therapy encourages individuals to actively explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in real-time, and promotes heightened emotional consciousness as these emotions occur.

Social anxiety can be an overwhelming challenge, but it's important to know that healing is achievable and that you don't have to face it alone. Gestalt therapy offers a deeply personal and experiential approach to healing, focusing on the core emotional and cognitive struggles behind social anxiety. The fact that it is relational also allows for a microcosm of social relationships outside of the therapy room.

Gestalt therapy aims to help you decrease social fears and enhance your sense of connection with yourself and others. This therapy can facilitate the development of presence, authenticity, and connection, ultimately leading to a greater sense of peace in social situations. If you're ready to take the next step, our team of therapists is available to work with you, as simply as contacting us here or booking below. Healing begins with understanding, and in Gestalt therapy, this entails understanding oneself in the present moment and in the presence of others.

References

Herrera, Pablo, et al. "Researching Gestalt Therapy for Anxiety in Practice-Based Settings: A Single-Case Experimental Design." Psychotherapie-Wissenschaft, vol. 9, no. 2, 2019, pp. 53b–68b

Raffagnino, R. "Gestalt Therapy Effectiveness: A Systematic Review of Empirical Evidence." Open Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 7, no. 6, 2019, pp. 66–83.

Rich, Jordan. “Exploring the Recent Rise of Social Anxiety Disorder — Seattle Psychiatrist.” Seattle Anxiety Specialists, PLLC: Psychiatry & Psychology, 25 Feb. 2023, seattleanxiety.com/psychiatrist/2023/2/24/exploring-the-recent-rise-of-social-anxiety-disorder.

Wild, J., & Clark, D. M. (2015). Experiential exercises and imagery rescripting in social anxiety disorder: New perspectives on changing beliefs. In N. C. Thoma & D. McKay (Eds.), Working with emotion in cognitive-behavioral therapy: Techniques for clinical practice (pp. 216–236). The Guilford Press.