Overcoming Social Anxiety

As I found out the hard way, there is no magic bullet for overcoming social anxiety disorder. Anxiety phobias are always complex, and social anxiety may be the most complex of them all. There are so many factors that come into play. If you're uncomfortable around people, it may have to do with experiences you had growing up. Perhaps your classmates bullied you for looking strange or coming from a different background, or maybe you just always had a lot of trouble fitting in. Social anxieties don't just spontaneously appear in general. Usually they are the product of years of growing discomfort. As a result, unraveling them can take years as well.

One of the most important things to keep in mind if you are trying to overcome social anxiety is that you need to spend time around people. Put yourself and positions that are relatively comfortable for you. Hang out with one or two folks instead of a large group. Just be sure to go out in public and socialize sometimes. If you sequester yourself and cut yourself off from other people, your anxiety worries will continue to get worse. If you make sure to socialize a few times a week, at the very least things will stay the same. They might even begin to improve.

Another good tip for overcoming social anxiety is to join an anxiety support group. This is a hard step to take if you are socially anxious, since a support group is by nature a social organism. Nonetheless, anxiety support groups are some of the most welcoming, understanding groups of people there are. After all, even if you are anxious around other people there, they won't embarrass you. They all know what it is like, and they will understand your issues as you will understand theirs.

Of course, there are more direct ways to treat social anxiety. One of the most popular ones is medication. If you have never taken and anxiety medication, You'll be amazed by how powerful it is. It can make all of your worries melt away. It is a great way to start overcoming social anxiety, but it is not a solution in and of itself. It can be habit forming, and it doesn't tend to address the root causes. Counseling in conjunction with medication is one of the best methods for overcoming social anxieties. Meditation is also very helpful for many people struggling with symptoms of anxiety. Don't be afraid to try a multi-pronged attack. The more strategies you use, the more likely you'll be to succeed.