Do you have social anxiety?
Hello everyone!
Most of us have probably experienced challenges in our social lives. For people who have Social Anxiety, these challenges can be overwhelming. If you are reading this, you are probably suffering from it yourself, or intend to help someone. I am not an expert, just someone who was in your shoes.
I would like to take this opportunity to share with you what I think. This is not a guide or tips on anxiety, but something we can think about.
Anxiety or anxiety?
Sometimes anxiety is not just about feeling anxious. It is likely you also feel sad, lonely and regret. Yes, we feel anxious because we anticipate what is going to happen in the future. There is uncertainty in this world and what if something goes wrong? It is perfect if everything goes our way, but what if it does not?
I have to admit, these thoughts are not totally irrational because we cannot always get what we want. If something unexpected happens, you may tell yourself :"Maybe I was right all along". By telling yourself that, you are feeding the anxiety, generating more negative energy of disappointment and sadness.
Eventually, you feel anxious now because of what might happen in the future, and down because of what happened in the past, which leads to future assumptions.
You are capable
Social anxiety does not define who we are. It does not make you less capable than others.
Let's say you have to attend an event where you need to talk to strangers. You start thinking about the possible outcome of it and every aspects of the event. Does this make you weak? No! Your mind is strong enough to analyse everything in order to protect yourself from any potential danger.
I am not supporting this behaviour which may make you feel more anxious (*perhaps we can work on this or think about this later), I just want to point out that you ARE more capable than you think... and no, it does not make you look stupid.
As much as I want to talk about social anxiety, everyone faces different difficulties and the way I dealt with anxiety does not necessarily mean it will apply to you
However, being socially anxious does not make you less important, you deserve to be happy like everybody else (like me..)
This is all for now... think about it 
and hopefully you will feel better soon
IcedTea95
@IcedTea95
Wow. Really an amazing post that got me thinking. I also have Social Anxiety. I always thought about the evaluation of future as a evidence of being weak, as it felt like looking for reasons not to do stuff that I was afraid of. Before every social event I spend days thinking how it will be and even there I cannot stop worrying what will come next. But I totally agree with you that it is just preparing for every possible outcome, which is quite ironically very rational. There is only the point where other people see me as asocial or lazy, which I am not, I love socializing, but I am too afraid to do it.
Thanks a lot for the brain buzz inducing post. :D
yayy <3 <3 i have social anxiety too!! so nice to meet people who get it. i have done better lately at coping/pushing through it, but i have had since middle school, so it's not an overnight shift; it's a slow process of growth.
