Hоw dо I оvеrсоmе sосiаl аnxiеty?

[Goodman]

My pеrsоnаlity tеst sаys "Yоu аrе sеnsitivе аbоut whаt оthеrs think оf yоu. Yоur соnсеrn аbоut rеjесtiоn аnd ridiсulе саusе yоu tо fееl shy аnd unсоmfоrtаblе аrоund оthеrs. Yоu аrе еаsily еmbаrrаssеd аnd оftеn fееl аshаmеd. Yоur fеаrs thаt оthеrs will сritiсizе оr mаkе fun оf yоu аrе еxаggеrаtеd аnd unrеаlistiс, but yоur аwkwаrdnеss аnd disсоmfоrt mаy mаkе thеsе fеаrs а sеlf-fulfilling prоphесy. Yоu аrе nоt prоnе tо spеlls оf еnеrgеtiс high spirits."


This is truе аnd it is frustrаting. Bесаusе it hаs stоppеd mе frоm bеing suссеssful аnd асhiеving things whiсh I соuld hаvе, if I didn't hаvе this prоblеm. I nееd tо find а sоlutiоn tо it. саn аnybоdy hеlp?

 

[katjamas]

You just have to SLOWLY start pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. If you want to have a healthy and happy life you will have to put yourself in situations in which you feel bad and try to get so used to theses situations that they will not feel scary anymore. It is just a matter of time until they will seem like normal situations to you.

 

[joshposh]

I suffer from the same anxiety. I get the same weird feeling as if everyone is judging me. the energy I project is not a very pleasant one when I get that way.


Here's what you can do. Instead of throwing yourself out there, I would suggest you go out with the people you are normally around and are comfortable with. That way the walls are down and you are not worrying about it. Now ask your friends to bring in a new friend into the fold to get use to having that new person around the group. You might feel different , but you won't get that anxiety level of being alone. Start talking and don't worry about this new person. Try to act as you normally do until you are comfortable or you just don't notice this new person was even there.


If some practice and time, you can start bringing more people into the fold until you get comfortable with new people all together. Might not be next month or next year, but it will happen once you are comfortable with the fact that there are more people out there not in your circle of friends.

 

[amy88]

I suffer from the same anxiety. I get the same weird feeling as if everyone is judging me. the energy I project is not a very pleasant one when I get that way.
Here's what you can do. Instead of throwing yourself out there, I would suggest you go out with the people you are normally around and are comfortable with. That way the walls are down and you are not worrying about it. Now ask your friends to bring in a new friend into the fold to get use to having that new person around the group. You might feel different , but you won't get that anxiety level of being alone. Start talking and don't worry about this new person. Try to act as you normally do until you are comfortable or you just don't notice this new person was even there.


If some practice and time, you can start bringing more people into the fold until you get comfortable with new people all together. Might not be next month or next year, but it will happen once you are comfortable with the fact that there are more people out there not in your circle of friends.

That's a really good suggestion - it's something that I find is helpful, when I have a core group of people I am comfortable with, and then just maybe one or two new people. I feel like it's easier when I have the security blanket of known people around me.


Gradual exposure to me is a good thing. Slowly but surely it helps build my comfort, then I feel more confident, and it makes it easier to meet new people again.

 

[joshposh]

That's a really good suggestion - it's something that I find is helpful, when I have a core group of people I am comfortable with, and then just maybe one or two new people. I feel like it's easier when I have the security blanket of known people around me.


Gradual exposure to me is a good thing. Slowly but surely it helps build my comfort, then I feel more confident, and it makes it easier to meet new people again.

The more you do it, the better it becomes. Eventually you will develop a better approach to talking to people as some of the insecurities have shed itself. I'm sure you act a certain way around your close friends. When you bring more people into the fold you will get use to opening up to new people.


I had to deal with that most of my life. Eventually I got over it, and I'm now able to block it all out and just focus on what I'm doing and the task at hand. With that projected energy, most people will look away as if I'm just another average Joe handling his business.


Bringing more people into you comfort zone will give you that over time. Confidence does grow.

 

[Valryn]

My method of overcoming it isn't as great as many people would think. Usually, when I have to be socially involved in anything, it's always a HUGE gathering of people (about 15 or more - I don't know, that's a lot to me). Instead of taking it slowly, I just kind of dive in there and surround myself by everyone. It's extremely uncomfortable, but I try to find a conversation with someone pretty fast to distract me from the thought of all these people around me. Usually someone starts conversations with me first, which either started out awkward, or it becomes awkward later on (because of me lol). I don't normally look too nervous or anything, since I'm pretty darn good at hiding it - but I'm shaking on the inside.


What I have found most helpful after it being too much is just removing myself from the area temporarily. It's not a bad thing to just step back and take a breather by yourself. I've done it plenty of times and trust me, it helps. You still socialized, and tried your best, and that's what counts! Not every problem gets solved over night. You're work in progress!


My 'advice' isn't really that great, but I'm just giving some input based on what I've experienced so far. Best of luck to you!

 

[rz3300]

One thing that I have found works really well is to compliment other people a lot. It can be for anything really, and what happens is that they compliment you back and you end up feeling more satisfied. It might not seem like much, but in certain situations when you are really stressing out it can be a helpful little tool to help gain some sense of normalcy back. Maybe it is just me, but those little victories really go a long way in battling social anxiety.

 

[LittleAnna]

There are a few different therapies to treat social anxiety disorder. Cognitive, Behavioral, and the use of drugs can all be used. Usually the plan to address this issue is some combination of these. A big part of the recovery is simply the act of reaching out for help, to realize social anxiety is irrational and harmful. Learning not to fear social mistakes or embarrassment is certainly an important key.

 

[ProNine]

One of the best ways to deal with it is simply fake it till you make it. It might be a great struggle at the beginning, but simply putting yourself outside of your comfort zone, you will feel progress. I am currently in the midst of this. Three months ago, I've begun doing this at school, and I can tell that I'm slowly feeling a tiny bit more comfortable talking to other people. I think one of the best things is that rather than repressing what scares me, for example, being embarrassed or saying something silly, simply acknowledge and move on. It will make you get a more realistic and smoother grip of reality and the people around you.

 

[tgthewriter1]

You got to wear something that your not afraid to be humiliated in. You have to stop giving a ****. You got to focus on your life.

 

[justsayyes]

I think the best way to overcome social anxiety is to keep exposing yourself to people and attend social functions as much as you can. It will be difficult at first no doubt but it will get easier as you go along.