Typical features of social phobia are uncomfortable feelings in contact with people and a subsequent desire to avoid these situations. People with social phobia experience fear of any activity in which they might be observed and critically evaluated. They anticipate that they will not be able to cope with the situation, they will appear strange, the environment will notice their embarrassment, judge them, ridicule them and gossip about them. Social phobics subject their every gesture, action or verbal expression to irrational and ruthless analysis.

Do you think you need help or at least want more clarity? Make an appointment for a no-obligation initial and diagnostic consultation or just give us a call, we will be happy to advise you and help you with everything. At our first meeting we will talk about your difficulties, find out the severity of your problems and the possible causes. We will suggest a course of action and, if necessary, select your personal therapist so that he/she not only meets your professional requirements, but also suits you humanly.

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In social phobia, there is often a phenomenon popularly called self-fulfilling prophecy. For example, the sufferer fears that he or she will blush, sweat, stutter, shake and look embarrassed when talking to others.

He intensely dwells on these thoughts and creates catastrophic scenarios that are so intense that he unconsciously triggers a stress reaction in our organism, the psychosomatic manifestation of which (a reference to psychosomatic disorders) is then these feared phenomena.

In treatment, it is therefore essential to work with the very thoughts that are responsible for the anxiety and its associated unpleasant consequences. Their common denominator is a pathological self-image and exaggerated self-criticism.

The causes of social phobia are varied. One important factor may be upbringing and social influences in early childhood. Another cause may be an innate vulnerability that is influenced by genetic factors. A social phobic may not be a silent introvert by nature; even people who would be labeled as extroverts by their surroundings and never anticipated similar anxieties can suffer from this disorder.

Social phobia can also be triggered by specific traumas, such as bullying, exclusion from a group based on difference, ridicule and humiliation. Finally, social phobia can also develop as a result of isolation, for example after a long illness or avoidance of social contact due to pandemic measures.

Clients we meet in our practice define their problems with social phobia in the following words: "As a child, I was not noticeable. I didn't feel the need to show off in front of people and draw attention to myself. But it got worse as a teenager.

It was also the fault of an unpleasant teacher who liked to humiliate us during rehearsals. I became afraid of it, I was afraid not only of the teacher and the exam, but especially of being laughed at by others. I was certainly not the star of the team, I was rather more withdrawn. Nevertheless, I found a partner with whom I was comfortable. But then I became very anxious about how I would impress her friends and parents, afraid that I would somehow embarrass myself in front of them.

When a social event was necessary, I only survived it if I got a little drunk. I have a job I enjoy, and I even think I'm good at it. But I'm bothered by presenting anything in front of my colleagues, and even casual social conversations over coffee in the kitchen stress me out and I avoid them. I don't think anyone can tell, but the overwhelm is costing me an awful lot of effort and I know I could do a lot more. Lately, I feel like it's getting worse. I'm working from home now, I'm exhausted and I'm prone to depression."

However, I am bothered by presenting anything in front of my colleagues, and I stress out and avoid the usual social conversations over coffee in the kitchen. I don't think anyone can tell, but the overwhelm costs me a terrible effort and I know I could do much more. Lately, I feel like it's getting worse. I'm working from home now, I'm exhausted and I'm prone to depression."

On the topic of social phobia in this programme, our therapist Mgr. Rita Kramerová and Mgr. Jakub Vopelák

It really pays to start treating social phobia as soon as possible. In the initial stages, this disorder can be satisfactorily managed with short-term therapy. However, untreated social phobia generalizes over time. In practice, the technical term generalisation of social anxiety means that the sufferer gradually loses mental 'toughness' as his or her anxiety builds up and becomes more and more stressed by different social activities or situations.

An example is the fear of presenting something in public, which gradually turns into fear of even much easier activities, such as driving in a vehicle, ordering and eating in a restaurant, etc. The sufferer then lives under permanent emotional stress, is forced to develop various evasive or hedging strategies and gradually becomes mentally exhausted.

The treatment can be very successful using some of the psychotherapeutic methods that fall under the general term cognitive-behavioural therapy. KBT can be described as the method of first choice in the case of social phobia, with satisfactory results proven by many studies.

The idea that there is some miracle cure that will permanently cure social phobia disorder is sadly unrealistic. Professional treatment of anxiety must always stand on several pillars. Only psychotherapy can resolve the cause of social phobia. The physical manifestations of anxiety, of which the sufferer is so afraid, can be resolved by professional training in breathing and muscle strategies. If the social anxiety is already severely limiting the life of the sufferer or if depression has already set in, it is possible to consider gentle medication that does not cause dependence. In this respect, we have the best experience with third- and fourth-generation antidepressants.

We will determine the severity of your problem, suggest a specific treatment procedure and explain the basic features of the psychotherapeutic method we will use to combat your suffering.

Together, we will select your personal therapist so that he/she not only meets your professional requirements, but also suits you humanly. Since the AdiCare therapy team consists of more than twenty psychologists, we can be of maximum assistance to you in this respect.