When we feel anxious in social situations, it’s natural to want to pull away. Avoiding discomfort feels protective — whether that means skipping a gathering, staying quiet in class, or finding an excuse not to attend a meeting. In the moment, avoidance brings relief. But over time, it quietly keeps anxiety strong. At Reflections Therapy in Markham , we often help clients recognize that avoidance isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a learned coping strategy . The brain believes it’s keeping us...

Feeling trapped in the cycle of social anxiety can be exhausting — constantly worrying about judgment, replaying conversations, or avoiding situations that make your heart race. One effective approach to breaking free from this pattern involves using behavioural experiments  and stepladders  — gentle, evidence-based tools to help you rebuild confidence and ease in social settings. 🌱 1. Behavioural Experiments: Testing, Not Avoiding When anxiety strikes, it’s common to assume the worst —...

Based on CCI’s Social Anxiety Module 2 Social anxiety often convinces us that the best way to feel safe is to avoid judgment or hide...