With these tips, you can keep your social anxiety in check
Continuing to replay situations in your head, feeling anxious, and canceling last-minute plans; if you suffer from social anxiety, you will surely recognize this. But some people have it worse than others. For me, it started after Covid, when ‘normal life’ began again, where you had obligations and had to go out. Suddenly, I started having panic attacks in public and preferred to stay home on weekends, while my friends went out and enjoyed themselves. Previously, I really lived for the weekend to be around people, but now I am mentally exhausted after a week of work and you can't get me out the door anymore. This felt quite lonely because no one around me really understood this, and I didn't either. In the meantime, I have managed to deal with it somewhat, so here are a few tips that have helped me.
1. Don't make it so big in your head
I could drive myself completely crazy with a little voice in my head constantly pointing out my anxiety. This only caused me more stress and panic. What helped me was not taking it so seriously. That's easier said than done, I know, but it's really true. Everyone is always just focused on themselves, so they are not really thinking about you 24/7.. Hate to break it to you, but not the whole world revolves around you. And suppose something awkward happens, no one will think about it tomorrow. They will have long forgotten it.
2. Say yes more often
Do you really want to cancel your plans last minute because you get too anxious at the thought of being social? Just go. In the end, you won't feel better if you stay home. The only way to learn how to deal with it is to expose yourself. I always had trouble saying yes to spontaneous social activities because I couldn't mentally prepare myself. I am a real control freak, so when my plans get thrown off, I panic. Of course, I should have just gone along more often because in hindsight, I only regret it. Such a shame.
3. Challenge yourself
If you never challenge yourself, you will always stay in the same bubble, and I can guarantee you that nothing will change. So take yourself on a day trip to your favorite city and do whatever you feel like doing, whether it's shopping or going to a museum, it doesn't matter; do what makes you feel good. At the end of the day, you come home and will only feel proud of yourself. You could even build it up to go to an unknown city next time or go on a solo trip. It does take some courage, but at least you step out of your comfort zone, and that is already worth a lot. Face your fears, they always say, right?
4. Withdraw for a moment
Imagine: you are out to dinner with a group of friends, and suddenly that panic kicks in. You can either stay seated and drive yourself crazy with stress or just step back for a moment. Just go outside for some fresh air or go to the bathroom, even if you do this three times in one evening. You need to allow yourself that moment of calm because otherwise, it will only get worse. If necessary, let someone at the table know, because there is a good chance that they will show understanding.
5. Everything will be fine
I hate it when people say that ‘everything will be fine’, but it is really true. The last time you felt that anxious feeling, everything turned out fine again, right? That's how I always think, and it gives me a lot of peace of mind in those moments, so I'll conclude with that.
