How To Support A Loved One Living With Social Anxiety Disorder

Key Takeaways:

• Encouraging your loved one to reframe their negative thoughts and challenging them with prompts can help them distance themselves from anxiety.

• Professional help is important for recovery from SAD, encourage your loved one to seek help from a psychiatrist or psychologist.

• It's also important to take care of your own mental health as a caregiver.

Do you tend to often “say the wrong thing” in your efforts to help a friend, family member or colleague cope with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)? It could happen to any one of us.

Also read: Anxiety 101: What You Need to Know About Anxiety Disorder

Experiencing symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder can be particularly challenging when living in a society centred around social events, rituals and norms. It can be difficult for many of us to even accept what we are going through, let alone open up about it. Here’s where your support is critical - as a caregiver. And unlike popular belief, knowing how to help in such situations is actually not intuitive. It’s natural to need help. 

Continue reading to take your first step towards becoming an informed caregiver.

3 ways to help loved one with social anxiety disorder

Create a safe space

In a social situation, your loved one may experience a flood of anxious thoughts and “what if” scenarios. Without a coping mechanism, this could turn into a spiral of negative thinking patterns, so it is important to check in with them if you notice that they may be feeling overwhelmed.

Also read: How Does Anxiety Affect Your Physical Health?

Practising active listening is the key to creating a safe space for your loved one to open up in such an episode. You could do this by listening without interruption and staying tuned into what they are saying. It can help to mimic their non-verbals and avoid distractions at this time.

Encourage reframing of thoughts

If your loved one feels comfortable opening up, you could ask them to consider challenging their negative thoughts. This is a technique used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which helps in bringing these thoughts back to reality and overcoming social anxiety.

Also read: 5 Therapist Recommended Techniques to Deal With Intrusive Thoughts

A few prompts that could help you in this situation:

1. "Could there be a different explanation?"

2. “What’s something good that could come out of this?”

3. “Have you ever felt like this before? What happened then?”

These questions will help your loved one distance themselves from the anxiety and feel better in the moment. It is also important to ask them what they need and praise their efforts in overcoming the anxiety and coming back to the moment.

Recommend professional help

Social Anxiety Disorder is a mental health concern for which professional intervention is important for recovery but often proves difficult due to the nature of the concern itself. Ensuring that your loved one reaches out to a psychiatrist or psychologist can make a huge difference in their health.

Also read: The Benefits of Therapy for Social Anxiety

If you are their primary caregiver or in their inner circle, remember that your efforts can be life-changing for their recovery. It is also important to keep a check on your own mental health along the way. Here are 3 ways to do this:

1. Open up to your loved ones

2. Join a community group for caregivers

3. Speak to a psychologist

We are proud of you for taking your first step toward supporting your loved one. After educating yourself on the unique challenges faced by those with SAD, be sure to keep reading on ways to support your loved one - so you can help them get through this in the best way possible.