Overcoming Social Anxiety - A Journey Together!
Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing well.
I've been working on overcoming my social anxiety, and have made significant progress in reducing it. I wanted to share my experience and some strategies that have helped me in hopes that they might help you too.
I know many of you here struggle with social anxiety too, I've seen numerous forum posts and group chats on this topic, and it's heartbreaking to see so many people going through this, especially because I've personally felt the profound impact it can have on one's life.
That's why I really wanted to share this post. Feel free to share it with anyone here who might be dealing with social anxiety. My goal is for it to reach as many people as possible and offer support.
Important Note
This post isn't a substitute for professional help, but I hope it can offer some support and guidance to those who, like me, are navigating this journey without professional assistance.
My Experience With Social Anxiety
Initially, I used to find it incredibly daunting to even think about leaving my house or being in public spaces. Even just being watched by people used to be so scary for me. I always avoided going to public places.
But over time, I learned that avoiding situations that made me anxious only reinforced my fear. So, I decided to face my anxiety head-on, step by step.
I began seeing each outing as a chance to work on reducing my social anxiety.
Throughout this journey, I have learned numerous strategies that have helped me cope and grow.
Additionally, gaining awareness, understanding, and consistently reminding myself about various aspects of social anxiety has facilitated my journey and made it more manageable.
Insights And Strategies
I'll be sharing these strategies and insights in the comments section, as listing them all here would make this post overly lengthy. Moreover, since I'm still in the process of overcoming and learning, new insights and tips continue to surface. Thus, I'll share them one by one in the comments. Please keep checking periodically as I will be posting them gradually, whether weekly, daily, or as often as possible.
Sharing And Supporting Each Other
Feel free to share your experience with social anxiety in the comments below and express how it affects you and makes you feel. You can suggest any strategies that have worked for you, whether you developed them yourself or found them elsewhere.
Let's support each other by reading each other's experiences and responding with suggestions and encouraging words.
Together, we can remind each other that we're not alone in this journey.
Daliy Progress
Feel free to share your daily progress too in the comments, detailing what steps you took to overcome social anxiety each day.
It can serve as motivation for others who may currently feel unable to overcome their social anxiety. Sharing your progress can show them that gradual steps and community support can make a difference in their journey.
Your ongoing engagement is greatly appreciated.
Personal Diary
Additionally, you can keep a personal diary to record & track your progress and feelings throughout this journey of overcoming social anxiety. Tracking your journey can offer valuable insights and serve as a supportive resource along the way.
Final Thoughts
I believe overcoming social anxiety alone can be difficult, but together, we can make it significantly easier. While it may take time, consistent efforts within our supportive community can facilitate the journey and remind you that you're not alone. With our big and compassionate cups family, we can and will conquer social anxiety together.
Strategy #1
Refrain from avoiding any social situations, regardless of how uncomfortable they may initially feel. Avoidance might bring temporary relief, but over time, it strengthens your fear. This pattern can create a cycle where your anxiety about social interactions intensifies because you never get the chance to realize that your fears are often exaggerated.
Strategy #2
Don't get too involved in your own thoughts. Social anxiety often makes us overly self-conscious, causing us to overthink on what others might be thinking about us. This can heighten our anxiety and make social interactions even more daunting. Instead, try to focus on what others are saying and actively engage in the conversation. By shifting your attention to others and genuinely listening to them, you can break this cycle.
Insight #1
A common fear in social anxiety is the belief that others are constantly judging us. It's important to realize that people are generally not as critical of us as we might think.
Most people are focused on themselves and their own concerns. Just as you might worry about how you’re being perceived, others are often preoccupied with their own thoughts and feelings. People rarely spend significant time critically analyzing others.
Our fears often exaggerate the reality of how much others are paying attention to us. What feels like intense scrutiny to us may go entirely unnoticed by others.
This is amazing! I have this tab bookmarked so I can always come back to it 🤗
Im so proud of you bunny!
@PastaIsVeryUnderrated
Thank you, pasta. I hope this post will help <3
@reliablebunny23 That's amazing bunyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy 😭 I'm glad you're sharing it with everyone so they can overcome with this too, you are doing an amazing job and I'm proud of you, This thread is amazing 🤍🤍 Thankyou so much 🫂🫂💓
