The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook
164Problem:  I don’t avoid the situation, and yet my fear persists.
Solutions:   Although exposure usually leads to a decrease in fear, occasionally 
people report having intense fear in social situations despite almost 
never avoiding these situations. For example, a person may eat with 
others on a regular basis but still get anxious in the situation. If you 
continue to experience fear, despite never avoiding the feared situation, 
you may ﬁnd it difﬁcult to come up with appropriate exposure exercises. 
Here are three strategies to consider. 
First, if you fear experiencing arousal symptoms while in social situa -
tions, try the interoceptive exposure exercises discussed in chapter 9. 
Second, assess whether you are engaging in subtle avoidance strategies, 
overprotective behaviors, alcohol or drug use, or other strategies that 
may be undermining the effects of the exposure. If so, try to discontinue 
these behaviors. Finally, a special effort should be used to identify and 
challenge the anxious predictions and beliefs that continue to maintain 
your fear (see chapter 6).