Welcome to the Social Anxiety Alliance UK home page!
Our charity mission is to foster a society in which social anxiety is widely understood, with easy access to appropriate information, support and treatment so that no one has to face social anxiety alone.
Our goals:
(1) Help those affected by Social Anxiety find the information and resources they need.
(2) Increase public awareness and empathy towards social anxiety.
(3) Promote and improve access to appropriate and effective treatment.
What is Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety involves an excessive fear of social situations. Sufferers will often fear being embarrassed, or worry about being negatively evaluated by others. Anticipatory anxiety and situational avoidance are common, and individuals may endure social situations with a high level of discomfort. Everyone’s experience of social anxiety is likely to be different. The scope of the anxiety may be focused on specific types of social situations or generalised to almost any social encounter. Please see here for technical definitions.
People with social anxiety are sometimes advised to just face their fears, with the idea that this will automatically improve things – but it’s often not that simple. People with social anxiety already face their fears on a regular basis (they have to!), but recovery requires a more comprehensive approach due to the nature of the disorder. Getting better usually involves learning about social anxiety (from online resources or books) and then using self-help, What the NHS Offers, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or other therapeutic approaches to develop more helpful thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Providing links to self-help resources
Providing information on accessing NHS and private therapy
A-Z
Collaborating with UK mental health charities to develop social anxiety information and resources
