How can families and friends help people with social anxiety disorder?

Some individuals with social anxiety seek reassurance from family members about their condition. They may ask for reassurance that the situation won't be stressful. They may ask whether others can tell that they are anxious or see them trembling, sweating, blushing, etc. Family members naturally want to reassure the affected person, but unfortunately that can be counterproductive. Because socially anxious individuals do experience anxiety and physical symptoms, and truly may be more noticeable because of it, such reassurance can seem hollow. It may even undermine the effective components of behavior therapy, which include repeated exposure to the phobic situation and remaining in it until the anxiety symptoms subside (habituation). However, family and friends can help correct overly negative assessments of a performance and support even the smallest positive steps. Encouragement to confront social situations is supportive; the counterproductive reassurance we've just covered is not. ...  more