COGNITIVE AVOIDANCE STRATEGIES IN PERSONS WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER DURING THE PERIOD OF ADAPTATION TO THE WARTIME
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/psy-visnyk/2024.1.6Keywords:
social anxiety disorder, cognitive avoidance, PTSD, adaptation, wartimeAbstract
The article is devoted to issues of adaptation to difficult life circumstances of people with social anxiety disorder. The article analyzes and highlights strategies for coping with distress through avoidance, as well as their role in the pathogenesis of social anxiety and phobia and adaptation to war conditions. The theoretical relationship between cognitive avoidance strategies, social anxiety, and the development of PTSD is discussed. This determines the relevance of the chosen topic. The article demonstrates the results of an empirical study of the impact of cognitive avoidance strategies on the psycho-emotional state of persons with social anxiety disorder in the context of the war period. The author points out that avoidance can be a short-term attempt to control the psycho-emotional state and adapt to the stressful circumstances of the wartime period. It is noted that individuals with a history of social anxiety disorder have a higher tendency to use cognitive avoidance strategies, which, in the long run, can deepen social phobia and limit adaptation and quality of life. The indicated strategies are the main predictor of psycho-emotional distress in work and everyday activities. They are also correlated with the growth of clinical symptoms of social anxiety disorder and psycho-emotional distress due to social avoidance. The author notes that social avoidance, which may result from cognitive avoidance strategies, may also contribute to worsening clinical symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Withdrawing from social situations or avoiding social interactions can lead to social isolation and further deepen anxiety symptoms. In addition, impaired self-awareness and emotional flexibility may result from excessive use of avoidance strategies. This can complicate the process of adaptation to stressful situations and the processing of traumatic experiences. In addition, the influence of forced relocation due to war as one of the modifying factors of aggravation of problems associated with both traumatic experience and social anxiety disorder is demonstrated. The study highlights the importance of considering individual beliefs and avoidance strategies in the context of social phobia, as well as the need to develop psychosocial support programs for the target group.
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