Some types of anxiety focus on specific experiences or situations. Social anxiety, for example, causes a person to feel uncomfortable and even debilitated in social situations. This is more than just being nervous but being unable to participate in social situations without intense emotional and physical outcomes. At Oceanfront Recovery, we can help you develop skills to overcome these challenges.

Signs of Social Anxiety

To learn how to overcome this type of mental health disorder, you need to know its signs and indications of worsening symptoms. Some of those may include:

Excessive self-consciousness even in everyday situations
Worrying so much so that it limits your ability or willingness to participate in activities
Worrying that starts days, weeks, or even months before an activity occurs
Fear of being watched or judged by others, including people you do not know
Fearing other people notice your nervousness

When anxiety interferes with normal routines and causes significant distress, it’s critical to recognize the need for change. Sometimes, you can improve some of those symptoms on your own. However, working with a therapist is often the best way to improve outcomes.

How to Improve Social Anxiety Symptoms

To overcome social anxiety disorder, it is important to change multiple facets of what’s taking place. First, consider the negative thought processes, which are often inaccurate, leading to withdrawing from activities. When you think things like, “I can’t go. People will think I am stupid,” or “I can’t say anything. I’ll make a fool out of myself,” you are controlling the situation in a negative manner.

Instead, recognize that most people will not judge you even if you do something strange. Do you know for sure that something bad is going to happen? Replace the negative outlook with something positive. For example, you may make new friends or meet people who share your own interests.

Another strategy for managing social anxiety is to focus on other people instead of focusing on yourself. That may be to put your attention on others, ask them questions, so they do most of the talking, and then listen to what they have to say. Interact with others by being present in the moment instead of thinking about what’s happening or what could happen. Don’t aim to be perfect in everything you say or do.

It’s also important to face your fears. The hardest part of any anxiety treatment stems from this. To overcome the fear of activities or experiences, you have to go through them. That allows you to see what reality is. It also allows you to see that, even if that social situation is hard, it is worth experiencing it. It may also help you see that you can thrive in social situations. Challenge yourself to get out there and interact in short bursts until you find confidence.

Know When You Need Professional Help for Social Anxiety

As a type of mental health disorder, anxiety in any form can be taxing on your mental and physical health. Some treatments can help you, including professional care. Our goal is to provide you with a range of solutions and support to help you start on the path towards healing. You do not have to face social anxiety on your own. Instead, allow our team to help. Aside from anxiety treatment, we offer a wide range of mental health programs such as:

Choose to Get Support – Call Oceanfront Recovery Today

Social anxiety is something you have, but also something that can be controlled. Our team at Oceanfront Recovery can give you the tools and resources to ensure your best long-term outcome. To get mental health treatment, call 877.279.1777 or connect with us online.