Surviving John

It’s not easy to live with Social Anxiety disorder but there are simple steps you can take to make life easier. Changing the way you feel and act is easier said than done but little by little you can gain more control. Adjustments in the way you react to situations can be made gradually.

A good place to start is by reframing negative thoughts and experiences into positive ones. Avoid talking to yourself in a negative manner. Using the power of visualizations, practice being a pillar of confidence everyday. Gradually these positive behaviors will begin to emerge with enough practice.

For most sufferers of social anxiety disorder, simply thinking about certain experiences is enough to cause symptoms. This is because the nervous system cannot tell the difference between a vividly imagined experience and a real one. This can be used to your advantage. Next time you know that your anxiety will spring on you, play the experience in your head beforehand and imagine things going well.

Every person has experienced an embarrassing moment that they’d rather forget. Don’t replay bad experiences in your head over and over again. Usually when we replay the bad experiences we make them bigger than they really are. Remember, nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes.

If you can’t stop thinking about something, use distractions; go for a jog, exercise, read or bake a cake. Try also to replay experiences differently, in a positive way. Add bright colors, make things silly and funny, and see yourself redoing everything with confidence.

Adjust your physiology and behavior gradually; speak louder, smile more and be more direct. Think of someone who is confident and charismatic and try to imitate them. Observe how they stand, how they talk and how they use their body language. 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. Unwind with a nice hot herbal drink like chamomile tea. 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. In addition there are advanced techniques you can follow to fast-track changes. Get more answers at my blog on social anxiety.

Quick Tips For Social Anxiety from Nathan Tyler on Vimeo.