I'm the therapist in this video. Ten years on, I'm filming new CBT demonstration sessions and I want to cover what people actually want to see.

What would help you most? Some options: OCD, panic attacks, PTSD, social anxiety, low self-esteem, worry and overthinking. Or tell me a technique you've heard about and want to see done properly.

Reply below. I read all of these and they will shape what gets made.

If you're struggling right now, please do speak to your GP or a local mental health service. I can't offer personal advice here, but I do read everything.

i was so disappointed when i saw that this was played by an actor :( but then i remembered that a person with social anxiety would never agree to be filmed during such a vulnerable moment.

My biggest problem is my mind going blank due to being overwhelmed. Every 1 second pause is like 10 seconds in my head

I hate to have social anxiety. I lose opportunities because I’m too scared to take risks. I’m scare ALL the time if there’s people watching, because I feel like they are judging me. I can’t walk normal in public, I feel that I need to walk some type of way, that all the eyes are on me, and not in a cocky way. I only have three closest friends, and I don’t like to spend a lot of time with other people. I don’t like big groups of people, I don’t feel comfortable. I get nervous when I have to talk in public, my heartbeat raises, my palms get sweaty, I feel like I’m gonna pass out. When I was getting into an online class the teacher asked me something and I knew the answer, but I was too scared to say it and for it to turn out wrong so what I did was to disconnected from the meeting, and later I gave the excuse that my internet failed.
I’m not shy, I don’t consider myself shy, but I’m a nervous girl. I don’t want to talk about it with other people because, again, I would feel judge. Because I think they are going to say something like :” it’s okay, don’t be dramatic.” Or “this is normal” but I know me, and this is not “normal” because I feel this way always, I live with fear and I always try not to show it. Hope someone else can relate.

I literally felt like no one understood me for years until I realized what I was living with and dealing with everyday, was a real thing. I felt judged for years sometimes it was so hard I wouldn’t leave my house for weeks. I’ll never forget all the times I would sit in the Walmart parking lot trying to summon the courage to go in and get something I need.. only to sit anxiously in my car for 30 mins and then drive back home. Social anxiety isn’t just being nervous before public events. It’s overthinking every little thing you do in every social interacting Every little conversation you had and what you said and how you said. It’s a battle within your mind every single day that leave you feeling mentally drained

After watching this video, I realized that people don't notice my anxiety that much. Today was my presentation. I was afraid. My heart was racing, but then, I told myself that people can't see the red face and the nervousness when I speak. To confirm this, I recorded my voice 4-5 times to see how my voice sound like when I am anxious. I did so good. Thank you so much!

One thing I've realised is that people with social anxiety are very nice, caring, good hearted people and I'd rather know them then some other big headed, loud mouthed people.

I'm tired of it..

It's funny how the psychologist was suggesting that the girl's anxious bodily sensations weren't as obvious to others as she thought and that's its all just in her head, but for me mine is obvious because when you hear people say to you "Hey, are you okay?" after you turned really red, or "are you nervous?" after you try to make conversation, then you resort to just keeping to yourself so you don't have to feel like you're fuckin weird in every social situation, and even with that you can't win because they say to you "you're too quiet".... Then you just get tired of even trying anymore...

Good actor. I felt vicarious anxiety for her before I know she was an actor.

I've been considering CBT therapy for social anxiety. Let me preface this by saying that I think social anxiety can totally be improved and worked on and you can really turn things around if you put the work in. It can get better. I think a major trap a lot of people with social anxiety fall into is that they settle for less. They spend all of their time and energy on just getting by. They force themselves to do just enough to survive and for their loved ones to think they're doing okay or at least okay enough (they force themselves to do just enough to be able to pay the bills, do the shopping, and make necessary calls, but there's no energy left for things like meeting new people with similar hobbies, or dating, or going for that job interview). Just doing what you have to do to survive is so EXHAUSTING. It really blows my mind to think about the idea that most people don't think twice about these things. And they aren't miserable the whole time they're doing them. Getting through the day can feel like you're going to battle and possibly to your death. Every day. Sometimes I think, 'Is it supposed to be this HARD?' It really wears you down, but you're so focused on just getting through the moment that you don't realize how tired you are. And then one day ten years has passed and you realize you've spent a decade putting all of your energy into just getting by. Energy that could have gone toward bigger dreams and more fun and feelings that actually feel good. That's really sad and I guess not how life is supposed to be. I guess my point is that I think therapy would probably help a lot, but a lot of people with social anxiety may not consider it because they've been getting by. But life isn't supposed to be miserable the whole time.

I have social anxiety disorder, and I hate it! I got promoted in my job and in my new position I have to speak in public and give meetings and the thought of it freaks me out, with my new schedule  I have the opportunity to go to college and I had the option of doing it  online and I decided to go on campus, now I’ve never been to college so I’m terrified, but I have to fight this ! I’m gonna beat it  and it will not control my life anymore!

Shouldn't this be made with a real victim of social anxiety. It just feels more relatable and soothing to see a real person in the same situation, rather than an actor.

I just related to her for a minute, and then realizing she is an actor from reading the comments, felt kinda lonely again..

Maybe the problem is, everyone is so fake and it feels so forced trying to have conversations with random people that it does make you feel uncomfortable because it’s just not how you role. Some people are born into this world as fake ass MF, others are just real to the core, hard for other to be fake when a real person enters the room, maybe that’s the reason you feel awkward because people have to take their masks off. Keep being you, surround yourself with understanding people and be proud of who you are. So long as you are trying to be the best you can be each day, that’s all you can do. Don’t beat yourself up about your past, live in the moment, learn to die while you are still alive so you can truly live without the fear of death, then you can start to become fearless. Stay strong

I've had social anxiety for years, now I'm 25 and still in the same situation, I feel useless and stuck in my thoughts all the time, don't have any friends and family doesn't really understand social anxiety and says I will get over it if I just try. My life is just going in circles and the years are going by and I'm just stuck in the same place. Feeling like this just sucks and I don't know what to do.

Too many people have laughed at me when I shake. It is impossible for them to understand when such a simple situation can make me shake. I have developed so many strategies to hide my disorder.

I've had social anxiety my whole life, it's gotten to the point where I can't go to school and talk in front of my classmates, my parents have no idea what's going on, I try my best to hide it, but when it happens I get extremely red, I shake like crazy, I start crying and I can't stop myself. It's really embarrassing and I'd give anything to make it stop. However, in this video it's different when she talks with one person and it's rehearsed, she tried to control herself and they had been talking for a while before so she probably started feeling safe talking with her at least a little. If she was in a group of people or one person, it doesn't matter, I think she would have really had those symptoms, but only if it was more natural so the mind could really think it's in danger (fff response as you all probably know happens).

To those suffering right now, I shake in sweaty solidarity. It's horrific and unhinging to experience. We are in this together.

When being asked a question by a teacher, my mind sometimes go blank (even being asked about my own name and basic knowledge).
So I seem like I don’t know the answer to it or I’m just dumb. But no. It’s because of this :(

When you're sitting with the therapist u feel less weird less anxious cuz they know u have them. You'll feel comfortable around them. But it's way much worse when you are surrounded by people