Living With Social Anxiety Disorder

Posted by admin

October 7, 2009

Living with Social Anxiety can be unbearable and difficult to cope with but you can make improvements by following the simple steps. Taking control of the way you feel and act in social situations is not easy but it can be achieved. Adjustments in the way you react to situations can be made gradually.

A good place to start is by reframing negative thoughts and experiences into positive ones. Attempt to stop yourself when engaged in negative self-talk. On a daily basis, vividly imagine yourself without social anxiety and being confident. By building these positive visual memories you’ll start feeling a bit more confident.

Often for the sufferer, social anxiety symptoms can be triggered with just the mere thought of an embarrassing social experience. Your nervous system can’t define between what is real and your imagination. You can use this to your advantage. Next time you know that your anxiety will spring on you, vividly imagine everything going smoothly beforehand.

We’ve all had bad experiences but to dwell on past negatives is only going to make you more depressed. Try and avoid replaying negative experiences in you mind. Often we make past experiences exaggerated which in turn makes us avoid similar situations. Don’t be too hard on yourself, everybody makes mistakes.

Using distractions can help you take your mind off something that’s bothering you; go for a jog, go to the gym, read or bake a cake. Try also to replay experiences differently, in a positive way. Add bright colors, make things silly and funny, and see yourself redoing everything with confidence.

Gradually change the way you act; be more assertive, make your voice louder and stand up straighter. Think of someone who is confident and charismatic and try to imitate them. Study what they do that makes them appear confident; their body language, speech and behavior. Make an effort to practice these behaviors and introduce them to your work environment.

Stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine should be avoided as they will only worsen social anxiety symptoms. Drink relaxing herbal drinks and make the effort to really unwind everyday. Watch lots of comedies to help build up background happiness and also to help you unwind at the end of the day.

Following these simple steps can help you overcome social anxiety. Behavioral and emotional changes take time, so be persistent. There are however powerful therapies that can make rapid changes and help you overcome this debilitating disorder quickly. Read more about these advanced methods at the social anxiety help site.