Dr. Robert F. Mullen
drmullen.bsky.social
Dr. Robert F. Mullen
@drmullen.bsky.social
Social anxiety, mental health, behaviorist, writer, workshop facilitator, dog lover
PERFECTIONISM AND UNREASONABLE EXPECTATIONS
rechanneling.org/2025/01/07/p...
Poor self-analysis compels us to overcompensate. Perfectionism is a traditional byproduct of overcompensation. Perfectionism leads us to set unreasonable expectations.
January 27, 2026 at 9:12 PM
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY WAVES IN RECOVERY
rechanneling.org/2026/01/20/p...
There are two distinct but potentially complementary methods of psychological healthcare: the “wellness model” and the pathographic or "disease model," which emphasizes disease over the individual.
Positive Psychology Waves in Recovery - ReChanneling
The disease model of mental health concentrates on identifying what is wrong with us, while the wellness model emphasizes what is right about us.
rechanneling.org
January 20, 2026 at 5:23 PM
DEALING WITH LOSS IN RECOVERY
rechanneling.org/2026/01/13/d...
Trauma may occur if the replacement of certain habits, such as substance abuse, causes an intense emotional and physiological reaction.
Dealing with Loss in Recovery - ReChanneling
In recovery, we experience a renewed sense of self as well as a feeling of emptiness and longing for what we have replaced or unlearned.
rechanneling.org
January 13, 2026 at 5:47 PM
HEALTHY RESOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR
rechanneling.org/2026/01/06/h...
Our holiday schedules are filled with family reunions, gift shopping, and other activities. That doesn’t mean we’re neglecting our recovery. Our neural network continues to process information, and our recovery goes on.
January 6, 2026 at 3:36 PM
JOURNAL IN THE NEW YEAR
rechanneling.org/2025/12/30/j...
Journaling is much more than simply jotting down random thoughts or notes—it is a thoughtful and intentional practice that encourages both personal growth and self-reflection.
December 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM
UNDERSTANDING SETBACKS IN RECOVERY
rechanneling.org/2025/12/18/u...
Recovery from social anxiety is often an exacting process. Successful recovery requires heightened awareness—recognizing, comprehending, and accepting new terms and concepts as well as our personal transformation.
Understanding Setbacks in Recovery - ReChanneling
Setbacks are inevitable; we should expect and welcome them.
rechanneling.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
PUBLISHING UPDATE
rechanneling.org/2025/12/02/p...
We forwarded our book “A Survivor's Common Sense Approach to Recovery from Social Anxiety” to the publisher. At this stage, we don’t yet have an estimated release date.
Publishing Update - ReChanneling
We forwarded our book, A Survivor's Common-Sense Approach to Recovery from Social Anxiety, to the publisher. At this stage, we do not yet have an estimated release date.
rechanneling.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:13 PM
SOCIAL ANXIETY’S FAILURE TO ESTABLISH, DEVELOP, AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. PART I
rechanneling.org/2025/11/19/s...
People with SAD find it hard to build close, productive relationships.
November 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
DEFENSE MECHANISMS
rechanneling.org/2025/11/05/d...
The overwhelming thoughts and emotions caused by our condition can be challenging for our minds to manage. To cope, we develop defense mechanisms—unconscious strategies meant to protect our emotional health from threats.
Defense Mechanisms - ReChanneling
Defense mechanisms offer an escape from situations that threaten our fragile self-image.
rechanneling.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:16 PM
KEY COPING STRATEGIES
Adaptive coping strategies include relaxation and breathing techniques, rational coping statements, and exercise. Unhealthy or maladaptive coping strategies include substance abuse, negative verbal outbursts, and avoidance due to fear.
October 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
THE EXAMINED LIFE
rechanneling.org/2025/10/07/t...
While Hippocrates wrote of shyness and social inadequacy roughly 2,500 years ago, the term' social anxiety'(1994) is a relatively recent diagnosis.
The Examined Life - ReChanneling
While Hippocrates wrote of shyness and social inadequacy roughly 2,500 years ago, the term' social anxiety' is a relatively recent diagnosis.
rechanneling.org
October 14, 2025 at 1:32 PM
AUTOMATIC NEGATIVE THOUGHTS. WHY WE HAVE THEM AND HOW TO ALLEVIATE THEM
rechanneling.org/2025/09/30/a...
Automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) are the immediate, anxiety-provoking thoughts, emotions, memories, and images that occur when we are triggered during daily events and situations.
Automatic Negative Thoughts: Why We Have Them and How to Alleviate Them - ReChanneling
The question is, why are automatic negative thoughts they so prevalent in social anxiety, and what can we do to alleviate their effect on our emotional well-being?
rechanneling.org
October 7, 2025 at 4:47 PM
THE SCIENCE BEHIND POSITIVE PERSONAL AFFIRMATIONS
rechanneling.org/2025/09/23/t...
Positive personal affirmations are self-actualizing tools that counter our negative thoughts and self-appraisals, stimulating the brain regions involved in emotional processing and realignment.
The Science Behind Positive Personal Affirmations - ReChanneling
PPAs help us focus on goals, challenge negative, self-defeating beliefs, and reprogram our subconscious mind.
rechanneling.org
September 30, 2025 at 4:30 PM
LECTURE: NEUROPLASTICITY AND POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL CHANGE
rechanneling.org/2025/09/17/n...
Both active and proactive neuroplasticity empower us to transform our thoughts and behaviors, creating healthy new mindsets, skills, and abilities.
Neuroplasticity and Positive Behavioral Change - ReChanneling
If there is an underlying theme in recovery, it is that we are not defined by our social anxiety, but by our character strengths, virtues, attributes, and achievements.
rechanneling.org
September 25, 2025 at 1:14 PM
COGNITIVE REFRAMING OUR SOCIAL ANXIETY
rechanneling.org/2025/09/10/c...
A core coping mechanism is cognitive reframing, a CBT technique that helps us identify, challenge, and replace negative or distorted thoughts with healthier, more positive perspectives.
Cognitive Reframing our Social Anxiety - ReChanneling
Cognitive reframing helps us identify, challenge, and replace negative or distorted thought patterns with healthier, more life-affirming perspectives.
rechanneling.org
September 16, 2025 at 3:59 PM
HOW CAN WE OFFSET NEGATIVE NEURAL INFORMATION
rechanneling.org/2025/09/03/h...
Our brain’s metabolism involves the complex chemical and electrical processes that impact our neural circuitry. Our neural network is the biological system of interconnected brain neurons that processes data.
September 9, 2025 at 4:31 PM
DEVISING RATIONAL COPING STATEMENTS
rechanneling.org/2025/08/26/d...
Rational coping statements are logical, self-affirming responses to our situational fears, anxieties, and automatic negative thoughts.
Devising Rational Coping Statements - ReChanneling
Among the many coping mechanisms, three stand out for their effectiveness in situations where we project fear.
rechanneling.org
September 3, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Guest Post
WINDING ROADS: A PROFILE OF ROBERT F. MULLEN
By Madelyn Winger
rechanneling.org/2025/08/19/w...
Everything I have experienced in my life influences who I am today, and I wouldn’t change or forget any of it. - RFMullen
Winding Roads: A Profile of Robert F. Mullen - ReChanneling
Everything I have experienced in my life influences who I am today, and I wouldn’t change or forget any of it.
rechanneling.org
August 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM
COMPLEMENTARITY. The Simultaneous Mutual Interaction of Mind, Body, Spirit, and Emotions
rechanneling.org/2025/08/12/c...
Understanding the holistic nature of our being is a journey into the intricate web of our mind, body, spirit, and emotions. These are intimately interconnected.
Complementarity - ReChanneling
Complementarity is the simultaneous mutual interaction of our behavioral components.
rechanneling.org
August 20, 2025 at 2:08 PM
NEUROPLASTICITY AND SOCIAL ANXIETY
rechanneling.org/2025/07/29/n...
Positive neurological stimulation changes the polarity of our neural network from toxic to healthy. The deliberate, repetitive neural input of information (DRNI) accelerates and consolidates the process.
Neuroplasticity and Social Anxiety - ReChanneling
Neuroplasticity and Social Anxiety: Positive neurological stimulation changes the polarity of our neural network from toxic to healthy.
rechanneling.org
August 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
8/5
A TOUGH LOVE, COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO RECOVERY
The Introduction
rechanneling.org/2025/08/05/a...
A Tough Love, Common Sense Approach to Recovery from Social Anxiety - ReChanneling
Tough love and common sense are the two pivotal standards of recovery from social anxiety.
rechanneling.org
August 6, 2025 at 4:24 PM
NEW PUBLICATION
I am honored to announce the publication of my chapter: Social Anxiety’s Failure to Establish, Develop, and Maintain Healthy Relationships in C-E Mayer, E. Vanderheiden, Handbook of Love, Springer. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76665-77/29
July 31, 2025 at 12:52 PM
RECLAIMING AND REBUILDING OUR SELF-ESTEEM
rechanneling.org/2025/07/23/r...
#socialanxiety For healthy human development, certain preconditions must be met, which play a crucial role in the evolution of our self-esteem.
Reclaiming and Rebuilding Our Self-Esteem - ReChanneling
Reclaiming and Rebuilding Our Self-Esteem: Self-esteem is awareness of our value and significance to ourselves, society, and the world.
rechanneling.org
July 29, 2025 at 1:52 PM
PERSONAS: CONSTRUCTIVELY MASKING OUR SOCIAL ANXIETY
rechanneling.org/2025/07/17/p...
In psychology, the term "persona" refers to the social guise that we present to the world. In essence, our persona is a compromise between our current psychological state and societal expectations.
Personas: Constructively Masking Our Social Anxiety - ReChanneling
A compelling persona is designed to make a positive impression while concealing the nature of our condition.
rechanneling.org
July 22, 2025 at 11:23 AM
SOCIAL ANXIETY IS NOT OUR FAULT – ASSUMING WE TAKE STEPS TO RECOVER
There are two distinctive types of individuals experiencing SAD: the Dynamic and the Static. Dynamic SAD individuals are in a constant state of flux, actively seeking ways to manage their condition and enhance their lives.
July 10, 2025 at 3:18 PM