How to Overcome Social Anxiety
Undergoing social anxiety means not just building your conversational skills but also increasing self-esteem and building confidence.
One way of combatting anxiety is through conversation. Doing this will open your eyes up to how many others struggle with social anxiety than you ever expected.
1. Keep things in perspective.
Social anxiety can cause us to spend much of our time worrying about every detail that might go wrong during interactions, though it’s essential that we consider all possible scenarios; but, more often than not, most of our worst fears won’t materialize into reality.
If you’re anxious about making mistakes in front of others, try thinking back on how many similar ones have already happened to you at home alone and most people won’t even notice your gaffe! By keeping things in perspective and remaining calm during difficult situations can help build up confidence about the changes being implemented to combat social anxiety. Therapy may also provide some much-needed support – therapy could provide invaluable aid if struggling alone to overcome them.
2. Be kind to yourself.
No matter the severity of your social anxiety, you have options for change. Deliberately pinpointing what triggers it is essential in learning techniques to manage its physical manifestations like pounding heartbeat or shaking hands. Challenging negative and unhelpful thoughts that occupy your mind should also be pursued – that inner critic can cause just as much damage as it does you!
Avoiding social situations that make you anxious can seem easier in the short term, but this keeps you from developing the confidence necessary to face them and form lasting connections. Instead, strive to gradually move out of your comfort zone.
Be patient with yourself and accept that there will be setbacks as you work toward conquering social anxiety – it will pay off in the end!
3. Focus on the present.
An effective way to calm yourself when facing social situations is by staying present. Focusing on breathing, physical surroundings and body sensations in this moment can take your attention off anxious thoughts.
Experiences or assumptions from past interactions or assumptions of what other people will think can lead to anxiety-inducing social situations, making you feel anxious or self-conscious in social settings. By learning to challenge negative thoughts with more balanced ones and replace them with positive ones can help immensely.
Social anxiety can be challenging to tackle on your own, so seeking professional assistance if self-help strategies don’t produce results may be helpful. A therapist can offer safe and supportive guidance as you work through any fears.
4. Don’t beat yourself up.
No one enjoys feeling anxious in social situations, yet feeling this way should never interfere with daily life or prevent you from meeting important goals like getting promoted or meeting potential friends and romantic partners. Anxiety shouldn’t affect daily tasks or prevent us from meeting potential friends and romantic partners; when this occurs it becomes an issue and can prevent us from moving forward with goals such as getting ahead professionally or meeting potential romantic partners.
Notably, it’s essential to keep in mind that just because social anxiety is getting in your way doesn’t mean it should stop there. Many individuals with anxiety find relief through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), an approach which addresses thoughts and behaviors associated with anxiety.
If your social anxiety has you stuck in a routine, try switching up your routines by making small adjustments like greeting a colleague when passing by or raising your hand in class to ask a question. Even small adjustments like saying “hello” to coworkers as they pass can make an impactful statement about who you are as an individual and could help break out of any rut you might be in.
5. Take small steps.
If you want to break out of social anxiety rut, the key to doing so successfully is remembering it takes time. Going from avoidance of social interaction to becoming an extrovert overnight isn’t possible!
Small steps will help you see progress even when things seem stagnant. For instance, if you find it difficult to engage with others at work, taking one colleague at a time might be one way of taking steps forward.
If you’re struggling to make progress alone, seeking professional guidance may be helpful. A trained therapist can teach techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy that may help manage anxiety symptoms; additionally they may provide safe environments in which you can practice handling stressful situations through exposure therapy.
