Social Anxiety Self Help Techniques

Social anxiety is the third largest psychological issue in the U.S. today. This specific type of anxiety affects more than 10 million Americans every year and counting. There are a lot of self help tips available, but believe it or not, social anxiety is not very well understood by the public or even by professional doctors, psychiatrists, or counselors.

The social anxiety self help methods start with looking at yourself first to really see where your problem is. There are many different causes of shyness, but some of the main ones are low self esteem along with the fear of rejection and also having an excessive concern for other people's approvals.

Some of the other things that may have caused social anxiety to be a part of your life are past experiences. Maybe while you were being raised you never spoke much and one of your parents always introduced you as the quiet one or they would say something like "he doesn't really talk that much" to others. After awhile your subconscious mind accepts the fact that you don't talk much and so you don't and you never develop those social skills.

Now that you've grown up, you may have never left that stage, and when you are in big groups of people you experience social anxiety and you feel overwhelmed. Most people who experience social anxiety must be alone for the most part and they always feel like they are being judged.

Self Help Tips For Ending Your Social Anxiety

• Remember to start small:
  For example, smile and say hello to the people you come across. Or even just nod your head if you feel very uncomfortable. Then after a few days or weeks of doing this, make a comment to a nearby person whose in a class or work environment about any little thing.

Then after this, make another comment to the same person later on, or to another person and get someone else involved as well. Sooner or later this self help method will really improve your social skills and you will be able to strike up a conversation and feel comfortable around anyone.

• Another helpful tip is to simply speak up a bit:
  Don't be afraid to talk in a louder voice than you're used to. Along with that, don't be afraid to talk over the previous person a little. If you wait around for your turn to talk in a conversation you will usually never get it. Overcoming your social anxiety by being social is a must. You can start small, but you must have the intention and desire to overcome this.

• You can also help yourself by being a better listener and asking the right kind of questions. If you are not doing so already, be sure to ask questions that don't result in a yes or no answer. Start your questions with words such as why, how, what, and when.

In the end, you can overcome your social anxiety with these simple self help techniques, but it is a matter of practice and putting these into action. Only you can take action and make changes in your life. If you don't, you may have to live with your condition forever.

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