All Episodes

October 2, 2023 19 mins

“Social anxiety is a fear of social situations; the bottom line is a fear of being judged negatively by others. That anxiety can be so overwhelming it can essentially stop people from living their lives.”

Around 1 in 8 people are thought to struggle with social anxiety, making it one of the most common anxiety disorders. Much more than being a few nerves in new situations or feeling shy among new people, it can have a very debilitating impact on people’s everyday lives, careers and professional development.

LionHeart host Jo Grant is joined by our counsellor and CBT therapist Berni Antoniou, who describes how something that often begins in teen years can go on for decades – and how the coping mechanisms people put in place become ‘maintaining factors’ that actually keep the problem going.

Join us to hear:

  • How therapy can help people identify negative thought patterns and reframe them
  • How using relaxation or calming techniques like mindfulness can begin to break the habits of a lifetime
  • Why putting yourself in the situations you’ve been avoiding for so long is the key to managing social anxiety

Useful links:

Find out more about LionHeart counselling

Watch our short recorded webinar, Understanding Anxiety

Sign up to get the LionHeart newsletter

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.