How to Deal with Social Anxiety Disorder? | Symptoms | Treatment
SAD can
be debilitating, and its best treatment approaches involve cognitive behavior
therapy and medication such as SSRIs, or a combination of both. But there is a
lot much that you can do for yourself to deal with your social anxiety
disorder.
Self-help
strategies are a significant component of traditional treatment approaches.
Self-help incorporates relaxation, exposure to feared situations, and thought
reprogramming.
Ask
for help
Don’t
wait for tomorrow, next week, or the next time you experience social anxiety.
Make an appointment to see a mental health professional or someone you trust.
If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your doctor, contact a mental health
helpline. You will feel less intimidating in talking to an anonymous stranger,
and you could receive the help you need.
Keep
a journal
Keep a
daily or weekly journal to see how much you improve. Writing about your
experiences and thoughts can help you recognize when you fall back into old
habits and negative thoughts.
Improve
your health
Take
some steps to ensure that poor physical health doesn’t contribute to your
anxiety problems. Eat a balanced and healthy diet and exercise regularly,
including weight training and cardiovascular exercises. Do your level best to
stay away from drinking alcohol. Try to drink chamomile tea to soothe you.
Set
goals
It is
not enough to have dreams or goals in your mind. Whether you want to overcome
your social anxiety issues or become a university topper, it is important to
put down your paper goals. It makes them measurable and real. Part of setting
goals also contributes to mental peace when you achieve them. And remember not
to compare yourself with others in terms of social success.
Buy
yourself some new outfits
Retail
therapy is no cure for social anxiety disorder, but sometimes clothing really
makes you feel like a new person with a new attitude. Get yourself out of a rut
by buying something outside your comfort zone. Choose something unique to try
new and choose a different accent to have a conversation starter when you first
meet someone.
Cherish
being alone
People
with a social anxiety disorder are natural introverts; it means that they like
to spend time alone instead of in the company of other people. Choose to take
time alone to gather your thoughts (rather than because of social fear) is a
self-aware and healthy choice.
Learn
to say “YES”
Perhaps
you have been tired of saying a “NO” to everything and everyone. Why not start
saying “yes?” if someone invites you to do something social, try to accept the
invitation. Although you may feel anxious at first, over time, you will become
less fearful. Next time a co-worker asks you for a coffee break or a friend
invite you for a date, make an effort to go.
Don’t
try to be perfect
Social
anxiety and perfectionism go hand in hand. Everything you do and everything
that you say doesn’t need to be perfect. Make a point of being yourself, of being
imperfect, and taking chances.
Take
time to laugh
Sometimes
people with SAD spend so much time fretting and worrying that they forget to
have fun and laugh. If you aren’t laughing and having fun, what is the point??
In the
process of dealing with your social anxiety disorder, the first thing is to
remember that everything takes time. You will not go from a socially anxious
person to a social butterfly overnight, no matter how hard you try or what
change you make.
Be
happy with the little steps and small progress that you make. Focus on your
journey, and your efforts will definitely take you there.
Comments
Post a Comment