If the mere thought of meeting someone new, trying a new hobby, or going to an unfamiliar place makes you break out into a cold sweat, you’re not alone. Approximately 12% of adults and 9% of adolescents experience social anxiety.
The good news is that there are ways to manage this anxiety, including seeing a psychiatrist in Mandeville, LA. Armed with information to battle your fears and a little extra support, you can gain confidence across a variety of situations. Who knows? With a little practice, you could become a social butterfly.
This article shares 4 tips to help you come out of your shell and begin to master the art of socializing.
4 Tips to Manage Social Anxiety
Social anxiety disorder can affect work, school, friendships, and daily life, in general. It is essentially an intense fear or anxiety based on the worry of being criticized, humiliated, or rejected in social settings. Seeking guidance from a mental health professional help can be an effective option, and there are also some everyday tactics you can use on your own.
1. Ask Yourself Some Real Questions
A social phobia can sometimes be traced back to a specific instance of bullying or a situation in which someone tried to embarrass or humiliate you in social interactions. Other times, there’s no singular source that can be identified.
Regardless of whether you’ve pinpointed the cause of your anxiety or it’s still a mystery, it can be helpful to ask yourself some questions about what you’re specifically afraid of. Answering these questions can put your fear into perspective.
Examples of questions to ask yourself could include:
- What are the chances of my fear actually happening?
- If what I’m worried about does happen, what’s the worst possible outcome? What is a realistic outcome?
- If my best friend was worried about the same thing, how would I advise them to proceed?
2. Challenge Negative Thoughts
As you ask yourself questions about what worries you, you’ll likely encounter negative thoughts or self-talk. Be realistic as you answer questions about worst-case scenarios in a way that involves challenging negative thoughts.
This technique is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy CBT that encourages you to turn negative thoughts into something positive. For example, if your fear is that everyone will judge your appearance when they see you, ask yourself if that is genuinely true (remember, most people are too focused on themselves to notice anyone else). As you realize it’s not, change the conversation in your head to one that is more encouraging.
3. Don’t Avoid Social Situations
It can be tempting to avoid social situations altogether under the rationale that you can avoid anxiety by avoiding people and interactions with them.
However, overcoming social anxiety first starts with putting yourself in a couple of awkward or difficult scenarios. If you continue to avoid anything anxiety-inducing, you’ll never get a chance to grow. Further, you’ll continue to be asked to show up for situations. Eventually, you’ll have to face your fear. It’s not easy, but it is doable.
4. Expand Your Comfort Zone
One of the best things you can do for social anxiety is get comfortable feeling uncomfortable. This means pushing yourself to try new things and expose yourself to new situations.
You can go back to the first tip of walking through worst-case scenarios, and you can also treat your brain to some positive visualizations. For example, if you have to give a speech or attend a party where you don’t know many people, picture yourself nailing the presentation or finding a new best friend or love interest.
As you continue to push the limits of your comfort zone, you might find that you begin to enjoy yourself. Keep practicing!
Get Help Managing Social Anxiety
At Crescent City Psychiatric, we provide top-quality, professional psychiatric services to help our clients reach their full potential. From medication management to dispelling myths about anxiety and anxiety disorder treatment, our team is here to help. Contact us to schedule a new patient appointment.
