10 Small Steps To Socialize When You Have Social Anxiety
Social anxiety can be crippling and debilitating, but it doesn’t have to control your life. You can get rid of it with small steps that you commit to each day.
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If you have social anxiety, it can feel impossible to do anything but hide out in your private space. But with these small steps, you’ll be more prepared for any unexpected situations that might come up.
I know this because I used to have social anxiety. Social anxiety is the fear of being judged, evaluated and rejected by others. It’s extremely common, affecting at least one in five adults.
Social anxiety can be crippling and debilitating, but it doesn’t have to control your life. You can get rid of it with small steps that you commit to each day.
Here are 10 tips to help you work toward socializing when you have social anxiety:
1. Be prepared for unexpected situations.
Social anxiety is like a fear of the unknown, which keeps you trapped in your comfort zone. When you’re worried that someone might say or do something to make you uncomfortable, it can feel impossible to do anything different or new at all.
But the opposite is true. To gain a new perspective on the world, take control of your life by getting involved in something completely different — like volunteering — where there are no expectations or big rewards. You can start small by joining a smaller club or organizing an event with friends and gradually expanding your social circle as you build confidence in doing new things.
2. Stop comparing yourself to other people.
Social anxiety makes us focus on what other people do and say, which makes us feel like we’re at a disadvantage. But this doesn’t mean you have to measure up to others: you just have to compare yourself with your standards and goals, not those of others.
If you’re sure about your goals, be passionate about them and trust that you’re good enough, then there’s no need to compare yourself with anyone else. If you’re not sure what you want in life or how good you…
