Beyond Shadows: Social Anxiety, Body Awareness, Trauma, and Alexithymia in a Journey of Healing with Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
Beyond Shadows: Social Anxiety, Body Awareness, Trauma, and Alexithymia in a Journey of Healing with Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
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Issue Date
2024-02
Authors
Bilikci, Seyda
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Abstract
The present project aimed to examine the relationship of a series of cognitive and emotional factors such as social anxiety, body awareness, trauma type, and alexithymia, and unravelling their complex interplay in shaping and intensifying Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). SAD has a lifetime prevalence rate of 7.1% and is a common disorder affecting nearly 15 million adults in the United States. The research underscores a heightened susceptibility to SAD, disturbed body awareness, and alexithymia among individuals who have faced interpersonal trauma. The concept of "the body keeps the score" emphasizes the storage of trauma in the body, disrupting the harmonious connection between mind and body. In this project, DBT is presented as a practical and effective holistic tool not only to improve well-being but also to heal the underlying causes and comprehensively navigate the multifaceted challenges of SAD by incorporating interventions including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
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Keywords
social anxiety , body awareness , trauma , alexithymia , interpersonal trauma , non-interpersonal trauma , dialectical behavioural therapy