Social anxiety disorder is an intense fear of being negatively evaluated, judged or rejected by those close to your social circle. It is not just fear, but it extends to having physical symptoms like nausea, rapid heart rate, or sweating.
Many people assume that people suffering from social anxiety are simply moody or shy,but this is not the case. Social anxiety peaks when it comes to public speaking.
When not taken care of social anxiety can prevent you from living your best life since you will always be holding back from the spotlight. People may also take advantage of you since they realize that you are not assertive and have a problem saying “No.”However, you do not need to remain the same.
By following, some of the tips listed below you can overcome social anxiety the right way.
Take care of your health
Poor eating habits could be contributing to your anxiety. Find a healthy diet that works for you and stick to it. Instead of turning to mdma abuse to solve your social anxiety problems, try making exercise a part of your schedule. When you exercise, endorphins are released in the body,and this boosts your mood.
Exercise is also a great way to interact with other like-minded individuals. Drugs can make you the hero of the party, but the negative consequences associated with them can be life-threatening;try out herbal tea like chamomile to soothe your nerves instead of alcohol when you feel an outbreak of social anxiety.
Journals
Your mind can become congested with thoughts when you are anxious. To prevent you from reverting to negative thinking and old habits try keeping a journal.
With a journal, you can write what is in your mind and evaluate whether your thoughts are mostly positive or negative. Journaling has been shown useful for treating cognitive thinking disorders .
Improve your social skills
Part of overcoming social anxiety is getting out there and interacting with other people. The more you do this, the more you break your mental barriers. You can practice how to make eye contact, give and receive compliments, make introductions, and remember names.
You can also try talking to random people – not as hard as it looks – by first asking them for directions or complimenting something you like about them. With time, you should realize that it gets easier to talk to people
Practice being assertive
People suffering from social anxiety often find it hard to beassertive. They repress their feelings and opinions,and this leads to them keeping to themselves. Assertiveness is different from aggression. It involves communicating clearly how you feel while putting into consideration the feelings of others.
Aggression is where you put across your feelings and opinions but ignore those of others. When you practice passive communication, you are left feeling sad, unwanted, depressed, helpless and alone. Assertiveness does not include being pushy or selfish.
When you become assertive, people can view issues from your point of view. Conversations where you are assertive begin with “I.” For example, I like popcorn, I do not feel the same way as you do, or I respect your views,but this is my opinion.
Get help from a therapist
At times it can help to find a therapist/counselor who can help you overcome your social anxiety. A counselor can help you relieve events in your past and help you have better control of your emotions.
You should realize that there is nothing shameful about social anxiety and you can become better. If you are still afraid,you can ask a close friend to accompany you to your first meeting.
Shift the focus from yourself to others
Part of the problems with social anxiety is that you tend to internalize what people are thinking about you. You wonder how they perceive what you have said or how you look. The more you spend time thinking about yourself, the more anxious you become.
While it is not easy to do at first, make an effort to view things externally instead of internally. Try to be engaged in conversations taking place with a view of building a connection with those around you.
Also, remember that it is not as bad as you think; people may notice that you are anxious, but they do not put much focus on it. Also, attempt to be present. Do not entertain your negative thoughts for too long.
Controlled breathing
As earlier stated part of the physical symptoms of social anxiety is that you have an increased heart rate and improved breathing. This leads to a reduction of oxygen that is going to your brain,and you become dizzy. This further worsens your anxiety. You can try various deep breathing exercises.
To do this finds a comfortable chair with your back straight and your hands on your chest and stomach. Take a deep inhale through your nose. Hold it for two seconds and then exhale slowly. Repeat this and you should feel relaxed.
Confront your fears
You do not know what you are capable until you face your fears. If you are afraid of public speaking, rather than avoiding situations, try taking the bull by the horn and speak publicly. Avoiding social interaction may feel good in the short term,but it only makes increases your fears.
When you let fear control your life, it limits what you can do. If you do not say how you feel, few people will put your feelings into considerations which makes you get hurt more. You can start by making baby steps. If you fear public speaking, begin by making presentations before a mirror then before close friends. With time you should be doing what you feared.
Conclusion
Social anxiety can prevent you from realizing your dreams. It can keep you from interacting with other people and cause more social anxiety. The solution is to get out there and make small steps, as you accomplish one goal you will realize that it is not as bad as you thought. You can also seek counseling to get to the root of your fears.
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