Is There A Cure For Social Anxiety?
Dealing with Social Anxiety can be tough but there are many things you can do to make you more comfortable in social situations. Learning to control your emotions and thoughts is not easy but it is possible to gain a considerable amount of control in little time. Adjustments in the way you react to situations can be made gradually.
First, make an effort to adjust your thinking towards a more positive one. Avoid talking to yourself in a negative manner. Using the power of visualizations, practice being a pillar of confidence everyday. By building these positive visual memories you’ll start feeling a bit more confident.
For most sufferers of social anxiety disorder, simply thinking about certain experiences is enough to cause symptoms. Your nervous system can’t define between what is real and your imagination. You can use this to your advantage. With each incident that triggers anxiety, play the experience in your head beforehand and imagine things going well.
We’ve all had bad experiences but to dwell on past negatives is only going to make you more depressed. Move on from these experiences rather than replay them over in your head. We tend to blow bad experiences out of proportion and avoid similar situations in the future. Don’t be too hard on yourself, everybody makes mistakes.
If you can’t stop thinking about something, use distractions; go for a run, go to the gym, read or bake a cake. Try also to replay experiences differently, in a positive way. Make it brighter, better and see yourself funny, confident and assertive.
Gradually change the way you act; be more assertive, make your voice louder and stand up straighter. Picture someone who is confident and assertive and mimic what they do. 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. Herbal drinks such as chamomile are non-caffeinated and relaxing. Laugh more and have more fun; watch comedies and read jokes.
These simple tips for social anxiety can make a difference in your life. Changes take time, so be patient. There are however powerful therapies that can make rapid changes and help you overcome this debilitating disorder quickly. For more on these advanced techniques visit the social anxiety blog.
