Ten Tips on Managing Social Anxiety

Social Anxiety can prevent people from enjoying many types of events. It can also stop them from building and maintaining important relationships. If you can apply the following tips to your personal interactions, your relationships will greatly improve.

1. REMEMBER, 50% of Americans describe themselves a shy – you are not alone! Half the people you will meet will feel some shyness around you.

2. LIKE YOURSELF! Be your own best friend. If you do, most others, if you give them the chance, will like you also. In what ways do you give them a chance?

3. COME OUT OF HIDING! There is no way around this. You must push out of your comfort zone and give yourself a chance at social opportunities. In your imagination, practice seeing yourself feeling relaxed and breathing comfortably while interacting with others.

4. In a social situation, relax, breathe, and center yourself. Then, identify someone who is not the center of attention and say “hello.” Ask them about themselves. LISTEN! FOCUS on making them comfortable.

5. Have a few things prepared to talk about. This requires you to have some interests. Sports, movies, literature, travel are just a few of the many things that can generate conversation. Life is a great smorgasbord of good things to talk about. By the way, the only true wealth is the power to be interested in many things.” TAKE INTEREST! Others will want to hook up.

6. Appearance is important, but it is not everything. Look the best you can and then ACCEPT yourself for just who you are.

7. Listen to the self-talk in your head. Watch out for the negative chatter that brings you down. Notice that you can change these self messages if you have the courage to do so. Make the assumption, CREATE THE BELIEF, that others will appreciate your approaching them, taking interest in them, and listening to them. They will be so pleased that a worthy person such as yourself has bothered to take interest in them they will like you right off.

8. Learn to manage physical anxiety. Sign up for yoga. Join a meditation group. Get a CD that takes you through relaxation and positive imagery.

9. TRUST YOURSELF in taking on new social experiences.

10. NEVER GIVE UP. Do not allow social anxiety to shrink your world. Seek professional help if you are not getting the success you want.  During an initial visit with you we could determine what might be most helpful to you in practicing these tips.