Support System For Social Anxiety

For those trying to overcome social anxiety, it is very important to have a support system. It can be friends, family, forums, or others you have met on line.

I have used many support systems on my journey to overcome social anxiety, and some worked out better than others.

I have revealed some personal thoughts, struggles and goals with many, but have only shared very personal details with maybe one or two people I have met along the way.

For the most part, I have found genuine, caring people who are truly interested in helping or by just being a good listener. Or, they suffer similar symptoms and want to learn more.

Sometimes it backfires. Some people ask me questions about my social anxiety out of curiosity, or they are just being polite, or making small talk. Sometimes these conversations are meaningless to the other person. Or they get bored, and didn't actually want to know anything in the first place, and they had a different agenda in mind.

Sometimes you won't find out if the person is being really sincere and actually cares until you've built this wonderful, caring relationship with them. Or so you thought. Then it all falls apart. The close contact starts to get more and more distant.

Should this ever happen to you, do NOT feel ashamed, embarrassed, stupid, worthless or anything else we go through when faced with rejection. This is not your problem, it is theirs.

Don't give up looking for support. My offer still stands for anyone needing to talk, vent, scream, or whatever you need to do. I am here. Just hit the Email Me link on the right.

Until next time...

Setbacks To Overcoming Social Anxiety

For those on the journey to overcoming social anxiety, you need to be aware of setbacks. What I mean by setback is an increased feeling of fear and anxiety in a social situation after you have made great progress.

I had a setback yesterday. I was going to work in the yard. This has been very easy to do lately, so I didn't think anything of it. That might have been my problem. I wasn't paying attention to my thoughts.

Just as I got to the door, a flood of “What if” questions came pouring into my thoughts. What if “this” happens... I'll look stupid. I was actually caught by surprise, so it took me a second to regroup.

What worked for me, is I changed the words “What if” to “So What!” Any negative thought I had like.. “What if the neighbors are out?” I replaced with, “So what if the neighbors are out!” Every “what if” can be turned around to “so what!” Once I did that, my anxiety lowered, and I was able accomplish my yard work.

Look for warning signs of a setback for overcoming social anxiety. Some may include:

• An increase of fear in social situations in which you have been successful
• An increase in fearful or “faulty” thoughts
• An increase in avoidance to things you have accepted invitations successfully
• An increase of worrying what others think of you

If a setback happens, don't panic. Don't think that you are a failure because you are not!

Go back over the steps you took previously on your journey to overcome social anxiety.

• Practice breathing skills
• Change the negative thoughts into more constructive ones
• Practice confronting your fears
• Try changing the “what if” questions to “so what!”

You have already been successful in certain areas, you have the tools, the coping skills, and the experience to get back on track. Don't ignore the signs! You can do this!

Until next time..

Nutrition and Anxiety

Nutrition and anxiety are something I have been researching. Although I can't find anyone who can positively identify certain foods that cause anxiety, there are some things to avoid to reduce stress and anxiety in your life.

Foods to limit:

• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Salt
• Preservatives

Foods to increase:

• Fresh vegetables
• Whole grains
• Protein
• Avoiding or limiting nicotine is good, too.

Vitamins such as B vitamins and vitamin C are needed because stress can drain your body's supply very quickly.

Relaxing herbs work for me very well. You can read more about natural remedies here: Visit Native Remedies for Proven, Effective and 100% Safe Herbal Remedies

I have been using MindSoothe and PureCalm for about 3 months now, and have noticed a major improvement in my anxiety and stress. I feel better, I am able to do more things, and I don't experience any side effects.

Get More Info on MindSoothe for for Depression, Insomnia, OCD and Anxiety

Get More Information on PureCalm for Anxiety & Panic Attacks.

You should eat healthy and treat your body right anyway, even if you don't have anxiety. Some of us just “get too busy” to eat right sometimes.

Until next time...

Increase Your Risk Of Disapproval

To fully recover from Social Anxiety, or Social Phobia, you really must put yourself to a test. This is only for those who feel they have their anxiety under control. If not, stick with your plan and try this when you are ready.

Increase the risk of disapproval. This is very difficult to carry out, but it will show you just how far you've come, and it will also show you what you have to work on.

Just like facing your fears, you can use the imagery procedure, or jump right out into the real world.

Same thing as before... start out slow. Use the lowest causing anxiety situation from your diary you filled out earlier. Start out with something very simple, and deliberately make a mistake.

It can be:

• tripping in front of someone
• call someone by the wrong name
• dropping something at dinner
• purposely make your hand shake, or stutter
• open a door wrong; push when it says pull (I do this all the time. LOL)

At this point, you probably won't feel absolutely comfortable, but you shouldn't feel devastated, either. If you do, then drop this step and come back to it when you are ready.

Once you have handled this situation, you are ready to go back to your diary and choose something higher on your list of goals that causes a little more anxiety.

You keep moving in this way, so you eventually reach your top goal. Keep it slow, and don't move on to the next goal until you are absolutely ready.

You can do this!!!

Until next time...

Self-Esteem

Self-Esteem is an important factor when making the journey to overcome social anxiety. This is how you view yourself. Many of us were raised by over critical parents, or abusive parents. Just as many experienced rejection or neglect growing up.

No matter what your circumstance is, no matter how old you are now, it is time to build your self-esteem. This is crucial to overcoming social anxiety.

You must believe in yourself and respect yourself. This must come from within. We can accomplish this by:

• Taking care of ourselves. Basic needs of taking care of ourselves is very important. Doing that little extra something. Taking a bubble bath, getting a message, or whatever you would like; just pamper yourself.
• Surround yourself with support. Whether it be family, friends, or co-workers. Weed out the “negative nannies” you don't need them in your life right now.
• Replace your negative thoughts about yourself with positive ones. There are earlier posts on this subject because it is very important.

You are just as important as the next person. You have the right to:

• make mistakes and not have to be perfect
• live by your own values and standards
• be yourself
• be treated with respect
• be happy!

Live it and believe it!

Until next time....