Posted by fallsfall on August 16, 2003, at 15:40:20
In reply to Re: Calling all CBT specialists - Matt? » Budgie, posted by Dinah on August 16, 2003, at 14:03:03
I think that part of the CBT approach would be getting you gradually used to what you are afraid of. So if you have social anxiety, say eating in the cafeteria you might:
Look through the cafeteria windows
Walk through the door and stand in the entryway
Sit at a table when there aren't other kid's eating
Sit at a table in the back when it is crowded
Eat at a table in the back when it is crowded
Eat at a table in the middle
Get your own foodEtc. So the first ones aren't so hard and you keep working up to harder things.
For fear of rejection, I would think that you would first identify what situations make you fearful. You can ask yourself if you would reject someone under those circumstances - would your best friend? Then when you encounter the situation, if you can find some way to verify whether the person is rejecting you or not (Ask them to do you a small favor, or to do something with you). I found that I was MUCH harder on myself than anybody else. Once you know that the fear goes away.
Good luck with school!!
poster:fallsfall
thread:251193
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20030814/msgs/251372.html