This is mainly about social anxiety.

The big long term treatment for anxiety is exposure. You all know the drill. Start with smaller things and work up to more difficult ones. Challenge yourself, but don't overwhelm and fail too often. Be mindful of the experience and aware that it's actually okay. Repeat until symptoms lessen, mastery and confidence improve.

Supposedly your life gradually improves and expands. Supposedly you feel better because of your successes.

Okay. Great. Makes sense.

What about when it doesn't ever seem to help? I can't begin to tell you how many times I've gone out there and pushed myself and got things done. It was hard. Some of it was unbelievably hard. But I often got it done. The problem is I just feel worn out and not at all more comfortable with things. No matter how many times I do it.

Sure I know I can usually do it if I expend my energy and eventually burn through my emotional resiliency and reserves. I can't sustain it. It doesn't get rid of the anxiety or the bad self-talk. Cognitive therapy hasn't worked out for me either. It never gets any better.

At this stage in my life I do actually have skills in this regard. It just still feels rotten. And yes, I do want more out of life.

Something really isn't working or is missing with my exposure experiences. Any ideas?

In your personal experience, how does one successfully do exposure? What process or details help you derive benefit from it, rather than just getting through it?