Are you one of those who excitedly plan a day out with your friends for a long time but as soon as the moment arrives, you step out of the plan by making up an excuse? Or you hesitate to meet new people and present your true self in front of the public. All such examples are clear signs of social anxiety. It is a sad reality that people with social anxiety have to face problems in every aspect of their lives.
From facing problems in making new friends, negotiating for a dream job, building a career, to maintaining relationships, it’s difficult for them to come out of their cocoon and give wings to their dreams and thoughts.
This situation can be debilitating if not treated with constant effort and dedication. If you are facing the negative consequences associated with social anxiety, help yourself by following the below-mentioned measures and overcome your anxiety.
Communicate With Friends, Ask For Appreciation
A friend in need is a friend indeed. What’s better than talking your hearts out with your close friends to deal with social anxiety and boost your confidence. Instead of suppressing your thoughts due to social anxiety and adding fuel to your fears, call your friend and ask positive things about yourself. Discuss your talent and drawbacks in detail to follow constructive criticism. Believe us, nothing is more beneficial than hearing words of appreciation from your close friends.
Practice Small Talk in Advance
If you struggle to find the right words while having a conversation, then you must practice small talks in advance to present yourself with grace and confidence. Prepare yourself for the basic questions like – Where you are from? How are you doing? What are your goals and plans, and much more?
These are common questions and great conversation openers. You can also prepare a set of questions that you can ask to make the conversations long and interesting.
Ask for Help Whenever Required
Never hesitate to seek help and guidance if you are in crisis. Asking for help provides you an opportunity to connect with smart individuals and surround yourself with people who are more knowledgeable and experienced than you. You can utilize their knowledge and experience to facilitate your development, develop an optimistic attitude, and better tackle challenging situations.
Don’t think that asking for help is a sign of weakness. In reality, it is a self-handicapping behavior that holds you back from making valuable relationships and ensuring long-term development.
Play Online Multiplayer Games
If you hesitate to meet new people in a live-set up, you can clear out all your hesitation by playing online multiplayer games with real-time players from different parts of the world and enjoy the best time of your life. The marketplace is flooded with thousands of online games that can be played on the go, all around the world. All you need is a reasonable computer or a smartphone and a stable internet connection. You can play the games on your computer/mobile and leverage the social aspect of playing online multiplayer games.
A multiplayer game allows you to build a network of like-minded individuals, promotes interaction, and instills valuable life skills. As a result, you become more effective and productive in real life.
Write Down Your Insecurities & Fear
Writing about your thoughts, insecurities, and fears can help you to process your anxiety and shape your distorted thoughts. Human brains can store valuable information (that we don’t even realize we have) in the form of mixed thoughts and cluttered narratives. When you write your feelings down, you get a new way of thinking, reconnect with yourself, and find answers to your questions. This is the best way to achieve better clarity of thoughts and recognize when you are falling back and developing a negative thought process.
When you feel jittery or confused, take a pen and paper and write your feelings down. Write in a stream of consciousness without stopping or thinking much. Not only it improves your writing but also shapes your mindset.
Congratulate Yourself
You might lack good communication skills or struggle to introduce yourself to new people, but there are a lot of things that you can be proud of. It’s important to focus on your skills and talent and celebrate the small achievements in your life. To deal with social anxiety, the first step is to feel good about yourself and have a confident approach.
There will be times when situations will go out of control, making you lose your confidence. You can easily overcome those shady days with your focusing on your talents, achievements, and be proud of what you are.
Try Retail Therapy
We are not saying that retail therapy is a permanent solution to your social anxiety, but it is a good way to make you feel good about yourself. Wearing new outfits can boost your confidence in meeting new people and make you feel like a new person. Good clothes can lend you a new attitude and also play a good role in getting you outside of your comfort zone.
Say ‘Yes’ For The Good Things
Have you developed the habit of saying ‘No’ just to save yourself from socializing? You might have entered the ‘NO zone’ because it seems easy, but have you ever thought about the benefits of saying “Yes?” To combat social anxiety, it is important to grab the opportunities of interacting with new people and force yourself to come out of your shell.
If your friend has invited you to a house party, then accept the offer instead of making an excuse. If your colleague asks you to download poker app to enjoy a thrilling time together, do it then and there. It is natural to be anxious initially, but over time, you will gain confidence.
So the next time you receive an invitation, make an effort to go!
Do follow these easy yet effective measures to overpower the negative consequences of social anxiety and live a happier life with less anxiety.
