Social Anxiety
Everyone experiences anxiety for different reasons, but some people experience it more than others. Let’s talk about social anxiety and how to combat your fears and build confidence.
Social anxiety can be described as feeling overly nervous in social situations. It is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others in public. You can experience social anxiety when meeting new people, in new work situations, or when speaking in front of people; even if you know them well. Social anxiety can negatively affect relationships, school, work, and even your daily activities. Although social anxiety can feel incredibly overwhelming, there are tools you can learn to combat these intense feelings and find peace and confidence.
How to Manage Social Anxiety
- Accept your reality and work towards changing aspects of it you don’t like. Some things are in our control and can be changed, but some, unfortunately, are not. Pay attention to what you can control and what you cannot, and try your best to focus on making the changes that you are able to.
- Work on improving yourself but accept yourself exactly how you are now in this present moment. Everyone can improve in some areas in life, no one is perfect. But it is also important to accept yourself as you are. Our brains, bodies, feelings, memories, thoughts are constantly reacting and regulating physiologically and psychologically. I encourage you to think about how you have already overcome and outgrown many challenges of the past. You did it! You are here. You survived.
- Be confident in what you know but never stop learning. There is always more that we can learn about the world around us, but remember that there are things that you have already learned through studying and experience. Do not be afraid to speak up about something you are knowledgeable about.
- Validate yourself and acknowledge your errors. There are going to be some situations where you are right, and some situations where you are wrong. Do not be afraid to be wrong. Being wrong about something means that you learned something new, which is always a great thing!
- Talk and listen, observe and participate, be still and be active. If you feel that today is a day to be inside and rest, allow yourself to do so. You do not always need to be active and interacting with people. If you feel like being out and interacting with others but are afraid to do so, understand that you have every right as everyone else to exist in the world. Speak up when you want to, but also know that it is okay to sit back and listen as well. Feel confident in yourself and know that you belong wherever you are, just as everyone else does.
Social Anxiety Therapists in Los Angeles, CA.
Social anxiety can feel completely overwhelming at times, but know that you are not the only one who feels this way. Interacting with others while feeling anxious about being judged can be scary, but there are tools that you can learn to cope with these overwhelming emotions. If you feel like you may need some assistance with learning these tools, it is always okay to reach out for help. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can be incredibly beneficial for learning how to cope with social anxiety. Whether you are looking for help with dating, social outings, or just general nervous system regulation, reach out for a therapist in your area or reach out to us to be connected with one of our anxiety specialists in Los Angeles, CA to start being your most confident self.
