Hi you ! In the article of the day, we will tackle the rather complicated theme of social anxiety. Being super anxious myself, I know that having a social life can be a challenge if socializing makes you anxious.
Don’t panic, because after reading this article, you will never refuse to go out out of fear!
Seek opportunities to socialize instead of avoiding the situation
At first glance, it may seem odd to want to participate in parties / events if you know they are stressing you out, but there are actually several reasons that should make you want to get your ass out of the house :
Avoiding the situations in which your anxiety is triggered will not lead you to anything; on the contrary, you’d better get to it – that’s how you’ll be able to overcome your social anxiety. On te contrary, turning in on yourself can only make you unhappy.
Question your fear
Try to find out what’s behind your anxiety. Often, we stress, but we do not take the time to really determine what is anguish. Yet being able to say why you are uncomfortable in society can help you reduce the strength of your anxiety.
Be a part of the Jujubehappy V.I.P (or the Sunshine Family, I haven’t really settled down on a name) ! There is a virtual library full of free stuff, just for you. Inside, you can find and download checklists, worksheets, PDFs, guides and other personal development treasures to help you manage your stress, learn how to meditate, take care of you and much, much more ! To join the party, it’s right here.
What I propose to do is take the time to discover why your anxiety is triggered: what are your thoughts? Maybe you are afraid of being judged, of not saying good things.
Once you know what you are afraid of, ask yourself if it is a “reasonable” fear or not. To do this, check if your belief is a proven fact and what would happen if, indeed, your fear came to fruition.
This little exercise helps put things in perspective and release one. little pressure.
Redirect your thoughts
In the same spirit, I advise you to redirect your thoughts whenever they become too negative. Whether your subject or an event, turn those thoughts into something positive.
What you believe has a huge impact; even if you decide to go out, if your mind is polluted by all these thoughts, you will not be comfortable, in a bad mood, and you will not have a good time (thus turning your fear into reality).
Instead of this disaster scenario, make a list of all the reasons why you wish to participate in this event. It will motivate you. If you also need a little confidence boost, you can also turn to gratitude.
Bring a friend
If you hesitate to go somewhere / go out / etc because of your anxiety, why not make sure to have an ally in the place? Like that, whatever happens, you will always have someone to turn to calm you down (or leave in peace).
The ideal would be to talk to people you do not know, but this solution allows you to not spend the whole evening stressing and introducing yourself.
In addition, if he is very socially comfortable, he can push you to go talk to people and help you not to have whites in the conversation. Everything will be like on wheels!
Bring a “stuffed object”
I did not know exactly how to name this section, but the idea is to put in your pocket a small object that makes you feel comfortable and gives you strength. It can be a gemstone (you can learn more about lithotherapy right here) or a gift from a loved one. It does not matter, as long as it helps you. By focusing on this object, you will stop obsessing on your anxiety.
Talk to a psychologist
The title speaks for itself, but it seems important to mention it here. After all, I’m not a shrink, and if you feel that your anxiety spoils your life, you should not hesitate to talk to someone about it.
This little exercise helps put things in perspective and release one. little pressure.
(Psst ! Are you enjoying this blog post ? if so, save it for later on Pinterest !)
Redirect your thoughts
In the same spirit, I advise you to redirect your thoughts whenever they become too negative. Whether your subject or an event, turn those thoughts into something positive.
What you believe has a huge impact; even if you decide to go out, if your mind is polluted by all these thoughts, you will not be comfortable, in a bad mood, and you will not have a good time (thus turning your fear into reality).
Instead of this disaster scenario, make a list of all the reasons why you wish to participate in this event. It will motivate you. If you also need a little confidence boost, you can also turn to gratitude. Have an excuse to leave when you want
Eh yes ! If you prepare in advance an excuse, there’s really no stress: you go, you have fun, and when you’re fed up, you’re going – after all, you have this thing super important to do! You never have to stay somewhere if you’re not comfortable.
Concentrate on your environment
If you feel that your thoughts are escaping you and that you have no more grip on your anxiety, a good technique is to focus on something else. Because usually, when it happens, you only think that you do not feel well. Putting the focus on your environment rather than you can allow you to blow. Look at the people around you, the temperature of the room …
Prepare in advance
To avoid panic in social situations, come prepared! Prepare questions in advance and topics that you can discuss with everyone so you do not have to improvise anything at the moment.
Calm down easily with this little technique
To finish this article, I share a relaxation exercise that should help you proclaim quickly (and discreetly): Look around you, and list 5 objects that you see. Then find 4 objects that you can touch (and be aware of the feeling they provide). Then, 3 things you can hear. Then 2 things you can feel. Finally, name one of your qualities of which you are most proud.
Be a part of the Jujubehappy V.I.P (or the Sunshine Family, I haven’t really settled down on a name) ! There is a virtual library full of free stuff, just for you. Inside, you can find and download checklists, worksheets, PDFs, guides and other personal development treasures to help you manage your stress, learn how to meditate, take care of you and much, much more ! To join the party, it’s right here.
Alright, now you’re ready to go out there and be social ! Share with me your own experiences in the comments 🙂
