David Clark

“Focus outwardly on the conversation, other person or your surroundings.”

David Clark · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-30

Prof Clark advises people with social anxiety to focus outwardly on conversations and surroundings rather than on themselves.

“It's so easy to distort what actually happened.”

David Clark · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-30

Prof Clark advises avoiding post-event rumination after social situations.

“People with social anxiety often assume negative outcomes – that they will embarrass themselves or think others will find them boring. Testing that can help people break that. It's frightening, but it can really help.”

David Clark · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-30

Prof Clark recommends testing fears through behavioural experiments to challenge negative assumptions.

“People with social anxiety often monitor themselves constantly during social situations. Am I blushing? Do I sound stupid? Do I look nervous?”

David Clark · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-30

Prof David Clark describes how people with social anxiety constantly monitor themselves during social situations.