Are you a socially anxious person? If so, you become unsettled in social situations that could leave you feeling rejected, embarrassed, or judged. You may also meet the formal criteria for the condition known as social anxiety disorder. This disorder is best addressed in an anxiety treatment program like the one at Northpoint. But whether or not you need such a program, you may want help reducing your typical level of anxiousness. A few useful tips can get you started toward the results you’re looking for. To learn more, call us today at 888.231.1281.
Why Do You Get Socially Anxious?
Before learning how to help social anxiety, it’s a good idea to get a better picture of what causes it. The roots of this anxiety vary. Some people simply feel shyer than others in social situations. This tendency may be the result of past experiences that included exposure to:
- Teasing
- Shaming
- Bullying
- Physical or sexual abuse
It may also have no notable underlying source.
But serious social anxiety isn’t always a matter of ordinary shyness. Past a certain point, it may produce a level of distress that decreases one’s ability to function or feel well. One potential cause of this kind of distress is overactivation of the part of the brain that triggers fear. In addition, some people inherit a genetic trait for excessive social anxiety. Factors in one’s daily environment can also play a significant role.
Widely Used Tips to Help with Social Anxiety
All tips for social anxiety aim to help you feel calmer and more at ease in social situations. They may approach this goal in more ways than one. Specific social anxiety tips that might be useful for you include:
- Learning beforehand about your anxiety triggers – Most socially anxious people tend to feel worse in certain surroundings or settings. Take the time to learn which situations trigger you.
- Focusing on others rather than yourself – Focusing on other people during social interactions can help you feel less self-conscious and scrutinized.
- Challenging your anxious thoughts – Highly anxious thoughts often focus on negativity and dire outcomes. Question those thoughts when you feel them arise.
- Practicing deep breathing – Shallow breathing is common during moments of anxiousness. Conscious, deep breathing can help you feel less stressed.
- Trying other relaxation techniques – Deep breathing is a relaxation technique. Other techniques that may help include meditation and visualization exercises.
- Monitoring your responses to social situations – Paying attention to your feelings in social situations may help you avoid getting overwhelmed.
- Developing your public speaking skills – Some socially anxious people use public speaking to ease their distressing feelings.
These are just a few of the many common tips for social anxiety relief. Your doctor may recommend other methods or techniques.
When Social Anxiety Tips Aren’t Enough
Widely recommended tips to help social anxiety often produce positive results. However, if you have social anxiety disorder, they may prove inadequate. In these situations, the source of real relief is typically formal anxiety treatment. Options for this kind of treatment include:
- A form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) called exposure therapy
- Other forms of CBT or different therapy approaches
- Anti-anxiety medication
- Antidepressant medication
All effective recovery plans are tailored to fit your particular circumstances.
Get More Tips to Help Social Anxiety Today at Northpoint Colorado
If you’re feeling distressed and ill at ease, the question of how to help social anxiety is not an idle one. Tips for everyday life may help you feel better. However, you may also need specialized help. In these circumstances, turn to the professionals at Northpoint Colorado. We feature services designed to help you cope with extreme anxiety. We can also provide you with practical advice on how to reduce anxiousness. Just call us today at 888.231.1281 or use our online contact form.