What’s Social Anxiety?

Sometimes known as social phobia, social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a surprisingly common form of anxiety disorder that causes an individual to experience intense anxiety in some or all of their social interactions in everyday life.

The Father Study

SAI is currently supporting the following study which is interested in further exploring the relationship between social anxiety and fathers. The study aims to understand the role of fathers and fathers’ anxiety in the development of their children. Currently, fathers’ mental health is a topic that has received limited attention and this study aims to better understand the impact they can have on their child’s life. With a better awareness of this, more effective methods of treatment and preventative measures can be developed and implemented.

If you know of any fathers or are a father of a child/children under 18 and would be interested in taking part or have any questions regarding the study, please email: sweenesh@tcd.ie

The Charity

With the support of people like you, we’ve been able to help thousands of people throughout Ireland. Suffers, families, friends and the gerneral public, here’s what you should know about us.

When you fund raise or donate, every cent goes directly to helping people like you. Our charity is run by the good will of some great people so 100% of your money can go to the treatment of social anxiety.

We hope to expand our treatment program over the course of the next year or two. Being the only measured treatment for SA we’re well aware of the demand for help. This is only possibly with your input.

Group Recommendations

The following is a selection of self-help material that some of our past group participants have found helpful.

Overcoming Social Anxiety & Shyness by Gillian Butler is a mandatory part of the Social Anxiety Group Therapy Program. It is a wonderful insight into the SA mindset, and provides practical advice on how you you can find an acceptable level of anxiety in your life.

approximately 16.8% of Irish adults at any one point in time.
“That’s on in eight people”.

Social Anxiety Program

The program, which largely adopts a cognitive behavioral model, is conducted over fourteen weeks. While this may seem a long time most of our participants argue that passes almost too quickly!

Any interested person might be well advised to do an Internet search of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in order to get a better understanding of the principles that form the bedrock of our program.

SAD Support Group.

The Social Anxiety Ireland Support Group is back in action. This is taking place the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month. This is a chance for past course participants and upcoming course participants to come together and share/discuss aspect of social anxiety in a safe environment.

If you happen to have any queries or questions in relation to the support group or around social anxiety please feel free to contact us directly at info@socialanxietyireland.com.

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Noticeboard

Our noticeboard provides quick notes, updates, fundraising events and live media events.

New Members Welcome

Hello. Welcome to our New Notice Board. Our Board of Directors and Committee Members meet every couple of months to discuss business and fundraising matters. We are always on the lookout for new committee members to volunteer. We welcome…

Latest News & Events

With the support of people like you, we’ve been able to help thousands of people throughout Ireland. Keep up to date with all things SAI via our blog with weekly updates, news, service updates and helpful information.

What I Want To Say.

So, what is it I want to say? I’m aware that the course is coming to an end and aware that I still feel the pangs of social anxiety thoughts and fears creep up within me and overwhelm my mind and whole being as I move from person to person,…

Social Anxiety Disorder and Gut Bacteria; A New Approach to Mental Health

Most of us intuitively know that there is a strong link between our gut and brain. Almost everyone has experienced ‘butterflies in the tummy’ when they are feeling nervous. For some people, stress and anxiety can cause or worsen stomach…

Exercise and Social Anxiety – does it help?

Hi, Last year we did some investigating in scientific journals about whether or not exercise can help reduce social anxiety. You can read what we found out here. The TL;DR version is that we found that exercise can help alleviate social…

Social Anxiety Experiences

A Social Anxiety Insight

It is better to share your story with those who
understand rather than suffer in silence.

The 14 Week
Social Anxiety Program

The programme, which largely adopts a cognitive behavioural
model, is conducted over fourteen weeks. While this may seem
a long time most of our participants argue that passes almost
too quickly!

Any interested person might be well advised to do an Internet
search of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in order
to get a better understanding of the principles
that form the bedrock of our program.

  • Social Anxiety Ireland

    Social Anxiety affected approximately 13.7% of Irish adults at any one point in time. That is nearly one in eight adults.

  • The Social Anxiety Ireland Intervention Group

    Our 14 week CBT Oriented programmes are run Wednesday & Thusrday evenings from 6 & 9 pm & cater for a max of 10 participants.

  • Effective Treatment

    The Social Anxiety Ireland group intervention programme was originally set up in 1998. It has proved to be effective in treating SAD.

  • Don’t Stop There!

    A follow-on support group is offered on the 1st & 3rd Wed of every month for everyone who has completed our program.

Social Anxiety Blog.

Our blog is the main holder of material from research, new findings, developments in treatments and of course real life experiences from our socially anxious blogging team!! If you wish to contribute please email info@socialanxietyireland.com.

What Others Say About Us.

This programme is a must for anyone with Social Anxiety, It’s shown me the cause and effect of SA and how I(we) perpetuate the problems unknowingly. We’re taught techniques and given tools to work on our behaviours and thought patterns allowing us to live a less anxious life.
I cannot recommend this course more…

This may actually have been one of the most rewarding things I’ve every done for myself. Being able to speak with other people about this ‘thing’ that no one else I’ve met seems to understand has made an incredible difference to me. I never realized how much I was carrying around or how hard I was working to deceive myself.

I am glad and grateful that I did this programme. After 30 years with Social Anxiety I didn’t believe it would help, but I don’t suffer with Social Anxiety really any more. I’ve gone form 80% anxiety to 10%.

If your social anxiety is interfering with your life – placing restrictions on you and boundaries around you – and it’s upsetting or bothering you at all in any way, then apply. There is nothing to loose and everything to gain. See it as a one-in-a-lifetime golden opportunity, which it is.