The National Social Anxiety Center is standing up for Naomi Osaka and the millions of other people suffering with social anxiety.

The National Social Anxiety Center supports Naomi Osaka’s decision to take time off to focus on her mental health and well-being. We admire her courage in sharing her own struggle with social anxiety and related depression. In doing so, Ms. Osaka is bringing more awareness to the issue of mental health in sports and has put the spotlight on a seldom discussed issue among athletes of her caliber. We look forward to seeing her on the courts again when she is ready to return.

Social anxiety is a common human experience. For many people, social interaction triggers fear and worry. Social anxiety is usually caused by the fear of being judged, criticized by others, or embarrassing oneself. Being the center of attention, such as with public speaking, can be anxiety provoking. Typically, people with social anxiety avoid anxiety-provoking situations or endure them with a great deal of distress.

“If someone has a physical health problem, like cancer, society tends to be understanding about it,” said Laura Johnson, Director of the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley. “But when it comes to mental health conditions, there is still stigma associated with it. We hope Ms. Osaka’s decision will help create a dialogue around mental health.”

“Social anxiety is one of the most common and debilitating mental health problems in the US, with 12% or 15 million Americans experiencing it at some point in their lives but it tends to be invisible or trivialized among those not personally familiar with it,” added Larry Cohen, Co-Founder of the National Social Anxiety Center and Director of Social Anxiety Help. “We applaud Ms. Osaka’s personal courage for not only prioritizing taking care of herself, but for also bringing to the world’s attention this important public and personal health problem.”

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold standard for helping people with social anxiety. CBT is based on the belief that our thoughts and behaviors influence our emotions. If we can make changes in our thinking and behavior, this can help us feel better and improve our mental health and well-being. Many outcome studies have demonstrated CBT to be the most effective therapy approach to overcoming social anxiety. In CBT, people learn and practice specific skills and strategies to reach their current goals and handle future problems.

The National Social Anxiety Center is an association of regional clinics with certified cognitive therapists specializing in social anxiety and anxiety-related problems. For anyone seeking compassionate, evidence-based therapy, we have experienced therapists in 22 local clinics around the United States.

To learn more about social anxiety and how to get help, visit our website at www.nationalsocialanxietycenter.com or call our national headquarters at (202) 656-8566.

About National Social Anxiety Center

The National Social Anxiety Center is a national association of regional clinics with certified cognitive therapists specializing in social anxiety and anxiety-related problems. Currently, we have 22 regional clinics in San Francisco, District of Columbia, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, New York City, Chicago, Newport Beach / Orange County, Houston / Sugar Land, St. Louis, Phoenix, South Florida, San Jose / Silicon Valley, Dallas, Des Moines, San Diego, Baltimore, Louisville, Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Maryland / Northern Virginia, Long Beach, Staten Island, and North Jersey.

The National Social Anxiety Center was established with the intent of making the highest quality, evidence-based psychotherapy services to treat social anxiety available to those in need. We aim to do this through research, collaboration, dissemination to other psychotherapists and education to the public.

To learn more about the National Social Anxiety Center, visit us at www.nationalsocialanxietycenter.com or contact our national headquarters at (202) 656-8566.