Have you ever experienced social anxiety? If not, you are among the lucky ones. More and more people are suffering from this disorder. Social anxiety is usually triggered by the fear of negative evaluation, whether to be a funny look or a change in an interlocutor’s tone of voice. If you constantly experience panic to the point of hysteria while being in public, professional help is needed. However, you can still deal with it on your own with the help of some techniques.
What Are Some Situations Where People Face Social Anxiety?
– Public speaking
– Answering phone calls
– Talking to your crush
– Having a meal in public
– Being in the spotlight
– Asking strangers for help or just talking to them
How Does Social Anxiety Begin?
Mostly, anxiety begins with the thought that something bad is about to happen. ‘What will people think?’ or ‘I’ll fail for sure’ are the thoughts of an anxious person. Negative thinking starts to take over your mind taking you to the next stage of anxiety: physical discomfort. As a rule, it comes in the form of blushing, dizziness, nausea, sweating, etc.
What Are Some Common Mistakes While Dealing with Anxiety?
– Staying home to avoid stress. You go outside only in case of emergency: ran out of food or medication.
– Letting your anxiety flourish. You miss new opportunities and social events for the fear of being judged
– Making yourself invisible by staring at your phone in public to avoid discomfort
Tips for Overcoming Anxiety
– Understand that other people might feel just as anxious as you do
– Write down the things that make you anxious and tackle them later
– Try out different breathing meditations or relaxation techniques
– Stop thinking like you are the focus of attention. In fact, all people suffering from anxiety report that it’s always about them.
– Interrupt yourself immediately when your anxious thoughts arise again
– Do not take other people’s opinions to heart. There will always be people who don’t find you lovely and it’s perfectly fine. Acknowledge that and move on
– Challenge yourself. The more we face our fears, the less we are frightened of them
– Copy a more confident person than you. As many people put it, fake it till you make it!
– Get ready for the upcoming events. Make a list of things that you might get anxious about, then work on it at home. You can even jot down some phrases in case you’re going to have a conversation.
Conclusion
Overcoming anxiety on your own can be extremely hard. That is why it is advisable to seek help from a professional or at least your nearest and dearest. These tips may not cure your anxiety but they will reduce it. Do not get discouraged if something doesn’t go off as planned. Working on your inner balance is a long process that takes a lot of time.
In addition, according to our research, 67% of people stop experiencing anxiety or decrease it by using relaxing sounds of nature.
