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Supporting a Loved One with Social Anxiety
There are many ways to support someone with social anxiety.
If you have a loved one who struggles with social anxiety, knowing how to support them can be difficult. Here are a few tips to help:
Educate yourself about social anxiety
Understanding social anxiety and how it affects your loved one can help you better understand and support them.
Understand how social anxiety affects your loved one
Each person with social anxiety is affected differently. Your loved one may experience significant anxiety on some occasions but otherwise experience little to no anxiety. Therefore, you may need to be flexible with what they feel comfortable with and what not.
Be patient
Supporting a loved one with social anxiety can be challenging, and progress may be slow. Be patient, and don’t get discouraged.
Listen and validate their feelings
Let your loved one know you are there to listen and understand their feelings. Validate their experiences and let them know that their feelings are valid.
