Overcoming Social Anxiety

Feeling like you are out of place is a normal feeling that even the most confident people get from time to time. Sometimes we are so comfortable being inside of our own little box that we never want to leave it because we feel safer in there. The idea of security in that box can protect us from the fears we have of the world, but one thing that can truly create a monumental burden in our lives is being a victim of social anxiety.

Social anxiety is seen as a chronic mental disorder that can cause a variety of unwelcoming feelings and thoughts to our head. The effects stem from having uncontrollable levels of consciousness, irrational anxiety, and fear when someone is in a social interaction.

The very first stages of our lives are critical in our personality development and how we create our perspectives in life. When you find yourself entering your teenaged years you often discover the beginning stages of confusion of life and it ultimately can play a role on how you interact with others. unfortunately for many, they never seem to find the right approach in establishing a healthy way in how they interact with others.

This isn't to say that the point of this post is to compare introverts and extroverts, because they are completely different things. Enjoying the presence of others and having different levels of wanting to be social really just depend. Being an introvert is not the same as having social anxiety. It just means that you prefer solitude more than a large social presence.

Finding ways to conquer social anxiety are not impossible, but it will require experimentation for things that work for you.

Seek Therapy

Finding a therapist you can talk to will allow you to discover your strengths and establish a new level of confidence. The hardest part in any process is always to start, and while you may think that your therapist is judging you, they aren't. A good therapist will walk you through this journey by listening and speaking with you because they are really experienced and in many cases really do care about you once you establish a relationship with them. This does not mean that Therapy will be the be-all and end-all but it will be great channel for you to establish the first point of contact with another person who wants to listen to you.

Find Clubs of Interest

Think of something that you enjoy doing or learning about, you may go to a school with many people who enjoy doing the same thing as you. There are a ton of organizations both in school and online with a community where you establish relationships with others. When ever you feel discouraged remember that you share a common interest with others and focus on that. The point is to put yourself in situations that require you to get out of your comfort zone. It will be scary at first but just remain calm and focus on learning about other people because they love that.

Find A Part-Time Job

If you are of legal working age you can certainly find a part-time job. This type of situation will require you to be social with others. The key to this is always focusing on doing your best in what you do. No one is perfect and mistakes will happen but you shouldn't focus on the negatives. Here is your time to practice different techniques of social interaction with people. As you establish your self as an employee, customers will begin to recognize your face and thats how you can establish relationships.

Smile More Often

Smiling attracts others to you. When you smile at others they will tend to return the gesture to you. Keep in mind, however, sometimes people may be having a bad day and if they don't smile do not take it personal. Focus on spreading and giving joy to others, not receiving it. When you do this you will begin to build up more confidence to eventually approaching others and starting a conversation.

Social Anxiety is a common disorder that affects a lot of people in the world in various stages of their lives. It can begin during childhood and very well into adulthood. But like many things it is conquerable. Remember that you are important and have a belonging in this world, so begin being proactive by seeking ways to beat this form of anxiety. There a ton of resources online that can educate you on this matter and provide you with more experienced tips to overcome this.