social anxiety?

Question

ok, i really need some procedures on overcoming social anxiety. i don't have the extreme case where i get sweaty palms and hyperventilate and so forth, but i just have a ~really~ hard time talking to people, ~especially~ in groups; even if i'm around the particular group on almost a daily basis. i'm talking to my counselor, but i've only talked with him once so far, cuz my meeting this week had to be cancelled. anyways, i need to know what truly works. please feel free to share your personal experiences or experiences from someone you know. thanks!

Answer 1

It is easy to write advice, and there is only one thing that really helps. But i can only imagine how stupid sounds to you. You need to learn about yourself, and to make yourself to believe in you. That is the only way.

Answer 2

I used to have the same problem when I was a bit younger. I know as I am now working in the insurance industry where I am constantly talking to and meeting clients, and play sports on teams (soccer and mountain biking) that the problem was primarily lack of confidence. I used to be shy and would think that people were 'looking' at me all the time. I would also feel inferior and felt that I should not say anything for fear of looking stupid. A few years ago (I am now 30) I realized that I am a better person than a lot of people that I come into contact with, and friends and colleagues sometimes envy my career, intelligence and athletic ability.

Answer 3

I have anxiety attacks often, which sometimes become true panic attacks.

One thing I have found out is that even small amounts of the artificial sweetener, Aspartame, can aggravate anxiety. I have had far fewer attacks since I stopped chewing sugarless chewing gum.

Take the time to relax before you have to go out. And if you feel nervous, don't be afraid to excuse yourself for a few moments to take a few deep breaths.

Good luck with this, and if it gets any worse, do not hesitate to seek medical help, as this can progress into a serious problem.

Answer 4

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 5

I am not a believer in medications unless necessary. I would like to recommend yoga and a healthy diet.

Yoga will teach you to cope with stress in a peaceful manner and how to relax in all sorts of situations.

The diet will keep you healthy and your body working properly.

Hopefully if you try, you will learn how to breath and avoid anxiety, stress and generally bad times.

What ever you choose - good luck to you in all your future endeavors.

Answer 6

i used to have anxiety, but in other forms (not social anxiety), and my psychologist told me to be sure and give myself a way out. that way, if you're anxious and just want to leave the situation, you have a plan that you can execute if you need to. you should remember that it's ok to do what you gotta do to get what you need. if you don't want to talk, you don't have to, and if you need to leave the group, go ahead and do so. people will be understanding, remember that!
just try and think relaxing thoughts when you're talking to people - that helps too. try and relax all of your muscles and tell yourself that you're ok.

Answer 7

I have social anxiety too.

One thing I learned was acting. I remember when I was in my mixed martial arts school throwing punches. My trainer said I was throwing to slow. But I didn’t understand how to become fast.

I mean you can learn technique, you can lift to get strong, but how do you get fast. And he told me pretend your fast.

I started using that for social anxiety. In your free time, on weekends at home before you go to bed and especially while your listing to music, visualize yourself being calm in social environments. As you breath in visualize the air coming into your lungs, being transferred into your blood and destroying every negative thought. And destroying your social anxiety.

But don’t just visualize it, believe it happening. Actually believe its happing.

Now in every day life act. Look around and watch the people around who appear to love social gatherings. And pretend your won of them. Don’t let your mined bring you down by thinking to much.

One thing that killed me was thinking about one instance to much. Don’t do that. Like a robot. Just do it. Don’t think about it. Just do it and start small.

And remember, act, pretend your not afraid. Like a shy actor playing the role of social butterfly. Act, and never stop acting.

There is a saying, told mostly to little kids. It goes, "watch what you think, it might become your actions, watch your actions it might become your character, watch your character, it may become you.

But in this case you want you to become your thoughts.


As I said I have social anxiety, I never even wanted to leave my room. I couldn’t even go to see a doc for it. But I developed this to over come it. Now im 20 work as a USMC special forces operator. Fighting in Iraq, meeting new people, living in different countries and loving it.

I still have it till this day, but I realize IM in control, NOT the anxiety.

Good luck.

Answer 8

I have a similar problem just try your hardest to ignore it it's really hard sometimtes especially with cases where you do end up hyperventalateing and it's really hard to learn and ignore it but eventually it turns into hey I can talk to almost anyone, and just remember those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

Answer 9

go to a shrink and tell him what you just told yahoo. not a counselor but a psychiatrist,they can prescribe you something theres a pill for every thing these days.

Answer 10

Seriously the only thing that helped me was meds........but only clonazapam works..........of course I had anxiety for 12 yrs before I finally gave in to meds!