How to Help a Friend With Social Anxiety Disorder

How to Help a Friend With Social Anxiety Disorder Social Anxiety Disorder Coping Print How to Help a Friend With Social Anxiety Disorder By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder and 7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety. Learn about our editorial policy Arlin Cuncic Updated on July 19, 2019 Social Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children PeopleImages / Getty Images It can be hard to know how to help someone with social anxiety disorder (SAD). On one hand, you want to be sensitive to the challenges that the disorder brings. On the other hand, you want to help bring out the best in your friend. Steps for Helping a Friend With Social Anxiety Disorder Below are five helping tips if you find yourself in this situation. Be Friendly Just because someone with SAD seems aloof, that does not mean she does not want to have friends. Often people with the disorder crave friendships but are too anxious to initiate and maintain them. If you are a naturally friendly and outgoing person, you could make a great companion for someone with SAD. Extend your friendship and get to know the person with social anxiety disorder. You could find yourself with a lifelong friendship and a new perspective on many aspects of life. Dont Criticize People with SAD are often overly critical of themselves and expect others to be critical of them as well. In fact, research shows that  having  SAD is strongly related  with believing oneself to be socially incompetent,  even when others dont perceive this same level of problem behavior. Dont add to the problem by being overly critical yourself. Dont tell the person that he is too quiet or that he just needs to loosen up. Be understanding of the limits that social anxiety can put on a persons life and dont expect more than a person can give. At the same time, be hopeful that your friend will gradually push limits as you provide a supportive environment in which this can take place. How to Help a Person With SAD Feel More Comfortable Learn About Social Anxiety Disorder The best way to ultimately help someone with SAD is to really understand the disorder yourself. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments and what its like to live with social anxiety. Read books, watch movies, or learn about famous people with the disorder. Arm yourself with knowledge so that you can be more understanding and approach situations from a nonjudgmental perspective. The Best Self-Help Strategies for Social Anxiety Disorder Help Others Get Help If you suspect someone you know has social anxiety disorder but has not been diagnosed or received treatment, help that person get help. That might involve making a doctors appointment, tracking down a support group or finding a self-help program. Do as much of the legwork as you can, to make it as easy as possible for the person to take that first step. Tips for Getting Help With SAD Break Through Denial Often people with SAD will deny their symptoms. This is because anxiety is humiliating and embarrassing for them, and the last thing they want is for it to be noticed. However, during times of personal crisis or when dealing with emotional upheaval, the person with social anxiety disorder might be more willing to talk simply because their anxiety becomes too much to handle. These are also good opportunities to suggest seeking support for their social anxiety. When a person has hit bottom, going up seems like the only reasonable next step. Where to Find Support Groups for Social Anxiety Disorder A Word From Verywell Research shows that caring relationships with  friends play a role in protecting adolescents from increasing social anxiety.  If you know a young person, in particular, you have a chance to intervene at a time that could be critical for preventing that persons social anxiety from developing into a disorder. Mental health issues are often hard for others to understand who have not experienced it themselves. Keep in mind that your friend is not choosing this behavior; however, choices can be made to make the situation better. You can easily become the person that leads the way to those choices if you approach the situation with intelligence and tact.