Is it possible to overcome social anxiety or social phobia? First of all, you should know that this problem is generated in people at any age and for different reasons.
It is about fear of others judging your actions, or feeling ashamed to perform certain acts that can be completely everyday for others, making it difficult to maintain job or school stability.
The fear you feel about doing things like eating in front of other people or using a public toilet can seem a little silly and increase your complexes, but you must understand that it is something that you cannot control.
That is why in this article we are going to teach you 7 tricks to overcome social anxiety, helping you to have a better quality of life.
7 Tips to Overcome Social Phobia
Learning how to combat social anxiety is very important, especially if this problem interferes with your personal life seriously, preventing you from arising and progressing in different areas. The key so that you can begin to overcome it is to learn to relax before the social situations that are normal in the day to day.
Therefore, here are 7 tips to cure social anxiety, which we hope will be useful:
- Do not let yourself be carried away by your imagination
When it comes to social situations, it’s normal for your imagination to make a bad move, in fact, most of the things that you fear have not yet taken place, and probably do not really happen, you’re just imagining an unpleasant anticipation, because of this condition.
This has the consequence that you take an attitude that others interpret as hostility, and therefore move away from you.
When you begin to have these thoughts, concentrate on moments that you consider pleasant, focus on it and seek to see things from a much more positive perspective.
- Think how you want to feel
Instead of focusing only on the fear you feel in everyday situations where you should interact with others, think how you want to feel about these and how you would like to act, focus on it and seek to express that confidence and security that you would like to feel.
You will see how by gradually achieving success in different circumstances you feel more relaxed and at peace.
- Begin to relate to others
A very significant step to overcome social anxiety is to accept invitations to social situations instead of evading or rejecting them. You should start with small things that do not intimidate you too much, or you could make your condition worse.
The meetings at the home of a co-worker or a small group of friends is a good way to start this process.
Once you have managed to feel more comfortable in a specific situation, risk something a little more daring, and little by little you will be developing better.
- Ask questions
When you feel so worried about what others may think about you, you are often reluctant to know things that you consider important, or you simply ask questions that require a simple No or Yes.
Begin to ask more open questions, where they should give you a more extensive explanation and therefore you should continue contributing something as well.
This will not only force you to externalize your thoughts and emotions, it will also help you to engage in more complex conversations, and with time you will feel more relaxed in situations where you should speak in public.
- Focus on simple things
It is normal to concentrate your attention on yourself and on the negative feelings that this disorder does not make you feel, but you should do everything possible to focus on the things that surround you, especially on things of little importance such as decoration, music that is You like it, because that way you will reduce anxiety a bit.
- Be yourself
One of the causes with greater weight of this problem, is that you are convinced that you must be everything that others expect from you, always showing you perfect and adequate.
While there are certain situations that force you socially to behave in a certain way, it does not mean that you can not let your personality blossom.
You must maintain confidence in yourself, and feel able to overcome your fears. Do not focus on what others want or think of you, simply seek to feel comfortable with who you are, and do everything that makes you feel happy and free.
- Talk about the problem you have
Find someone you trust, be it a friend or a family member, and tell them your fears and concerns, and how they intimidate you in situations that are considered normal and common.