Do you avoid social situations purposefully? Is the fear of rejection keeping you from achieving your full potential? Do you experience overwhelming anxiety when you need to give a presentation at work? Are you highly self-conscious, especially in a social setting? Do you often find it hard to think of the right things to say in a gathering? Do you beat yourself up about the things you do say? Do you dread being the center of attention? Do you feel judged or negatively evaluated? Are these feelings keeping you from mingling with friends, family, and acquaintances?

 

If you answered yes to most or all of these questions, you are probably struggling with social anxiety. But there’s nothing to worry about – it is possible to manage social anxiety and lead a happy life. All you need to do is learn how to deal with social anxiety!

Everyone gets self-conscious every once in a while. But does that mean you have a social anxiety disorder? Well, if your anxiety is keeping you from living your life to the fullest, it is probably more than everyday stress and anxiety – you may be suffering from a social anxiety disorder. This disorder can lead to psychological distress and a number of other problems. Let’s take a look at what a person with social anxiety feels on a daily basis.

Social anxiety is more than just a nagging feeling. It has very real, physical and psychological impacts. Let’s take a look at an example to understand what a person with social anxiety goes through every day and how it may affect their life. Imagine a student who struggles with social anxiety. Their anxious behavior will bring down their confidence, keeping them from participating in academic activities – even when they can excel in it. They will also experience low self-esteem, which will have a direct impact on their social life.

 

Now, this combo of lack of confidence and low self-esteem can be deadly. It will keep them from mingling with fellow students. They will feel anxious to be part of a conversation, fearing they will say something silly that may lead to other’s disapproval. Many people will even mistake their social anxiety for rudeness or proudness!

 

However, even when this is not the case, people with social anxiety tend to over-analyze their behavior, resulting in frequent negative thoughts about themselves.

 

Why am I like this? Why can’t I say what’s inside my head? I hate it that I freeze in social situations. My friends probably hate me now. I am good for nothing!

 

Such thoughts run through their mind every day. Unable to share their troubles, they often feel judged, misunderstood, and alone. Moreover, repressing these feelings and living with fear, apprehension, and pain for years may eventually lead to depression, which is the same as opening a Pandora’s box.

 

In short, living with social anxiety is not easy at all. A psychotherapist, like myself, understands how frustrating social anxiety can get, which is why seeking help from a professional is the best option for people struggling with a social anxiety disorder. A professional therapist like me will be able to get to the root of the problem and help you identify the symptoms of social anxiety so that you are better equipped to manage and elevate it.

It is important to understand that everyone experiences social anxiety differently. It is worse for some people than others, which is why physical symptoms of social anxiety also vary from person to person. Here’s a list of some common symptoms that people with social anxiety may experience in social settings.

 

• Rapid heartbeat
• Lightheadedness
• Dry throat
• Muscle tension
• Stomach ache or diarrhea
• Shortness of breath

 

You may start getting anxious days before the event. Plus, this anxiety doesn’t end with the event. Instead, most people with social anxiety disorder spend days after the event critically analyzing their words, actions, and behavior at the event. This can cause some serious psychological distress, impacting the overall quality of life. For all these reasons, it is important to know how to deal with a social anxiety disorder if you want to lead a content and happy life.

One of the biggest concerns for people with a social anxiety disorder is appearing anxious. They worry excessively about acting visibly anxious, especially around friends and family. This makes them want to avoid social interactions, and when that’s not possible, they feel anxious and uncomfortable. They don’t want anyone to know how they feel out of fear of rejection. It can be deeply traumatic to feel stressed, anxious, and uncomfortable every time you are in the company of others!

 

It affects not only your personal but also your professional life. For instance, going for a job interview may seem like a nightmare for a person with a social anxiety disorder. They may dread official meetings as colleagues are expected to discuss work and socialize in these meetings. Plus, the level of anxiety that they may experience during such social interactions is so high that they don’t even remember half the things being said.

 

All this can be extremely frustrating, especially when you are well equipped to perform the job flawlessly but your social anxiety disorder keeps you from reaching your full potential.

Social anxiety is much more common than you may have imagined. This is mainly because many people with social anxiety are extremely good at masking it. Moreover, a lot of people confuse it with shyness. Even psychologists and counselors question the premise that this disorder is the same as shyness or not.

 

According to research by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, social anxiety disorder affects nearly 15 million adults in the US alone! However, the good news is that anxiety disorders are treatable, which means that people with anxiety disorder can overcome their fears and lead a happy and healthy life. The success rate of anxiety therapy is quite high. Unfortunately, around 36% of the people with social anxiety disorder suffer silently for 10 years or more before getting help.

 

Make sure you don’t make the same mistake. If you are struggling with social anxiety and it is affecting your way of life, it’s time you take a stand for yourself. Control your anxiety instead of letting it control you. Let’s learn how!

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety 

The basic premise of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is that it is our internal thoughts, not external events, that affect our behavior. So, if you can learn to control your thoughts and train your brain, you will be able to control how you react to a situation. As the name suggests, CBT involves two main components.

 

• Cognitive Therapy: It involves examining and understanding how negative thoughts contribute to anxiety in a social setting.
• Behavioral Therapy: It involves examining how you react to situations that trigger social anxiety. From there, you can learn how to deal with social anxiety and better yourself.

 

However, keep in mind that CBT for anxiety should be extensive and must cover all aspects of anxiety to be fully effective.

• Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness teaches us to be reflective instead of reactive. In simple words, you will learn how to stay focused on what’s happening in the present rather than worrying about the past or the future. Research shows that practicing mindfulness can help relieve social anxiety. By practicing mindfulness, you will become aware of emotions. Instead of acting on them instinctively, you will be able to take a more adaptive approach to difficult situations.

• Build Mental Strength

Just like physical strength is essential to keep the body fit and active, mental strength is important to keep your mind working like a well-oiled machine. The more mentally strong you are, the easier it will be for you to deal with social anxiety. You will learn various methods to build mental strength and calm your mind in stressful situations.

 

These are just a few methods that we can explore to help elevate your social anxiety. Remember, social anxiety disorder is common and manageable. So, don’t let it dictate your life.

It’s time you take control of the situation, find the root cause of your social anxiety, and target the underlying problem. A better life is just around the corner. So, seek help today and allow me to help you lead a life full of love and happiness!