V. Glossary

  1. Social Support : Support provided by friends, family, loved ones, and others that can buffer stress and anxiety； includes emotional support, informational support, and tangible support.
  2. Social Support Network : Your circle of friends, family, loved ones, and other supportive people that can provide you with social support.
  3. Assertiveness Training : Training to teach assertiveness communications skills, which involve direct statements and requests using “I” that can create mutual respect, clarity in intentions and needs, and develop a social support network.
  4. Shyness : A tendency to be uncomfortable in social situations despite wanting to be around people； should not be confused with being antisocial or having social phobia or anxiety.
  5. Social Phobia : An anxiety disorder in people who are fearful of being judged, embarrassed or humiliated in social situations to the point that it interferes with their daily life.
  6. Social Anxiety Disorder : Another term for Social Phobia.
  7. Carer : Someone who provides support and assistance to someone with psychological needs or diagnosed conditions.
  8. Reciprocation : A mutual exchange of support or help that can benefit both parties.
  9. Cognitive Therapy : Therapy for anxiety and other mood disorders that help clients overcome dysfunctional thinking, core beliefs, emotions or behaviour.
  10. Behavioural Therapy : Therapy for anxiety and other mood disorders that use observation and interventions directed toward altering problem behaviours, rather than the thoughts behind them.
  11. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder : An anxiety disorder in which unreasonable thoughts or fears cause repetitive behaviours in order to relieve the fears that caused them.
  12. Panic Disorder : An anxiety disorder characterized by unexpected episodes of intense fear and feelings of unreality coupled with physical reactions of chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and even fainting.