How to Get Over Your Social Anxiety

[mollysullivan]

That’s exactly how I overcame my anxiety. It also helps not to be around someone who dominates the conversation.

[MrDantheNobody]

It took me 34 years to figure this out, and here comes Jordan just handing it out like free candy. I wish I had heard this advice when I was a kid.

[Elder]

We gotta keep this man alive at all cost

[Crazylab]

My son had a massive anxiety disorder growing up . Debilitating anxiety... I introduced him to everyone we can across. Have him order food or pay for gas... Putting him in every situation he would have to encounter when he was an adult..hes 18 now and works in a high risk security... He can now read people, and let his insticts kick in... We all have anxiety, animals have anxiety. I work with troubled horses... They have great anxiety in fight or flight. Humans are no different... Practicing how to deal with anxiety is such a gift you can give yourself or your children.

[thomasturnerjr.]

SAD dominated my life for about 34 years (I'm now 36) - 3 things really helped me overcome it...

1. Exposure therapy. Started a new group therapy class and before it began I made it a point / goal that I would willingly share and engage in conversation, oftentimes being among the first to do so instead of waiting for others to go first.

2. Distraction techniques. On my first day I felt a panic attack coming on. I randomly started counting the tiles on the floor silently to myself as the group continued. My nerves calmed down, the anxiety quickly started to go away. Been using similar techniques ever since.

3. Faith in God. Once I began to learn how to operate in a way that was predominantly concerned with pleasing God and not caring about what the world thinks of me or perceives, it's easier to feel more comfortable in your own skin and not be easily influenced by self-perceived superficial judgments you assume people make of you.

[lauriesimonds]

Great methodology. Being a nurse & caring for others has greatly reduced my social fears/anxieties - we're all just human.

[SusannaBearfoot]

This is exactly how I got over my extreme shyness and discomfort in social situations. Focus on 'the other'. It was an intuitive impulse for me.

[thecove]

This is why I always ask people questions about themselves. It really helps us both to relax.

[ellab-pstvty]

It's true...i have been practicing this... it's basically about staying ready to engage with others. I also have to regulate myself with moments of positive self talk/breathwork throughout the day. It's not easy at the start but it's worth it.

[ptrch]

Yes! That's so true! I helped a few by telling them to change their perspective, become the best support player. Make the people you are encountering comfortable and help them and give them the space to be the best they can be.
It was an attempt to get them to think about the other and get the focus of themselves

[AniPo]

It's how I've handled social situations for years, helps me get through them.

[mr.]

The ANXIOUS driver honking in the background is definitely not putting anyone at ease. 😆

[clyndermoody]

I love his point about overcoming docisl anxiety by making the other person comfortable, and then they would become comfortable themselves. Their fear disappeared. Excellent.

[danielwessel]

Good advice. You reap what you sow. Another way to put it is when you focus on someone else you forget to focus on yourself.

[paulm]

Absolutely works. I discovered it in a roundabout way.

1. “Just telling a story” needing to give public speech
2. “What’s the worst that can happen? I die? And I definitely won’t…” speech and/or approach
3. (Observing outside myself) “I wonder if they’re uncomfortable with me talking to them…I’ll show them we’re like old friends in 30 seconds…”

Wham - there it was.

[CosmicTurbo]

The guy he's talking to looks like he should play the bad guy in a western movie.

[mastersway]

Thinking of others solves so many problems♡

[glig]

I've done this instinctually since I was a child. I did not know this wasn't obvious to everyone. Then again, I'm very authentic as a person. It really upsets people sometimes, and what I've learned is. Don't care. If you're authenticity offends, they went for you. Not everyone should be. That's OK.

[Gsscvgggfdertfffhhjiuytdsss]

If you've been in a place where it's dangerous to express yourself, you've got a preset 'block' in leading a conversation and making them at ease. It's a double edge sword for some.

[justinhammon]

Social anxiety is largely concern about rubbing other people the wrong way so just being nice & setting others at ease is often the logical/intuitive response.

The hard part is learning to sort out dis-eased social interactions that may have been largely your fault vs. the other person just being an asshole.