Client #10 (Female, 33 Years Old, Single)

Abstract

Miss. RE 33 years old, single, was referred to the University of Tehran Clinic because of her social anxiety, relatively low mood and shaky self-confidence. The symptoms of the disorder have existed on since her childhood and adolescence. However, they have become more severe, annoying and dominant since two years ago and have disrupted her personal and professional life. Her symptoms fulfilled the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association in Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V), American Psychiatric Publishing, Washington DC, 2013) criteria for social anxiety disorder including severe stress at social situations among colleagues, fear of being addressed by others and avoidance behaviors. The patient’s social anxiety is so much that she has difficulty going to a shop and buying things: “Even while buying a bottle of milk, or when using my credit card to pay for things, I feel so stressed that my hands shake noticeably.” Among her family members, her mother suffers from anxiety disorder, too. RE does not take medication at present and this is her first visit for psychological treatment. RE was seen for 3 sessions over a period of 4 weeks.