Social anxiety treatment at Austin Anxiety and OCD Specialists

Social anxiety is more than shyness or nervousness in social settings. It's a common and oftentimes debilitating experience that can significantly impact quality of life. A pervasive fear of criticism, judgment, embarrassment, or rejection often characterizes social anxiety. People with social anxiety may avoid speaking up in meetings or at school, dread social gatherings, or feel paralyzed at the thought of meeting new people.

Treatment for Driving Anxiety in Austin, Texas.

Driving anxiety can affect anyone, ranging from occasional worry to severe fear that prevents you from getting behind the wheel. While some anxiety when driving is helpful—keeping us alert and cautious—persistent and overwhelming anxiety can wreak havoc on daily life. It can limit your independence, strain relationships, and prevent you from participating fully in activities you value.

Looking for effective therapy for anxiety in Austin? Austin Anxiety and OCD Specialists offer expert care, including CBT, ACT, and ERP. Schedule a consultation today!

Selective Mutism is an anxiety-disorder of childhood where a child demonstrates an inability to speak in certain social environments. A child may have difficulty speaking in one environment (speaks at home, but not at school) or multiple environments (does not speak at home or school). Selective Mutism is associated with functional impairments in educational, familial, social, or occupational settings. Left untreated, Selective Mutism may lead to increased stress within family units, decreased academic performance, and decreased socialization needed for appropriate development.

Back-to-school time is just around the corner and for children struggling with anxiety, it can be a time of increased stress (both for children and their families). Below are some tips that can help parents and kids feel more prepared for the transition back to school: Begin initiating expected bedtime and morning routines several weeks before school resumes: It is typically pretty challenging to switch from a relaxed summer schedule to a structured school schedule.

A lot of us are great at being compassionate toward others though find it hard to extend that same compassion toward ourselves. We have a harder time accepting ourselves for all that we are, especially when we make mistakes, do not meet standards we have set for ourselves, or experience some kind of loss. Acceptance does not mean we have to like, enjoy or want more of the painful experience we are in. It simply means we are dropping the fight with reality, which is something we must do in order to change an undesirable reality.

Your teen has withdrawn to their room, the light is off, their face illuminated by the glow of their phone. You bravely pop your head into their room and let them know dinner’s ready, but they don’t respond. You ask what’s wrong, and get a one-word answer in response: “Nothing.” You notice they’ve been crying, so you ask if they want to talk about it. “Nothing’s wrong!” they snap back. Part of you thinks this is normal teen development and those hormones everyone talks about, but you can’t ignore the nagging feeling that there’s something more going on.

It's summer, and our awesome team is busy doing amazing things! Training, expanding the accessibility of evidence-based treatment for anxiety and OCD, and giving back to our community are values that are especially important to us at Austin Anxiety and OCD Specialists. This month we are excited to spotlight our two amazing therapists, Rebecca Athanason, LCSW and Jhana Rice, LPC, who are doing just that!

The International OCD Foundation explains that individuals with OCD have higher rates of eating disorders (about 11 to 17%), so if you or a loved one find yourself struggling with both OCD and an eating disorder, you are not alone. You are also in the right place. It can be overwhelming to have to switch gears and begin looking for new resources and treatments. Below are clinician-approved resources to help you on your journey: