Anxiety Madness | Self-Help To Cure Social Anxiety

10 Ways to Communicate Effectively To Cure Anxiety

2008-11-28T19:14:00.002-05:00

Effective communication can ease your anxiety. Some with severe anxiety tend to lack communication skills.Here are 10 ways to empower your communication.Knowledge - Education is about understanding the basics. We all have our limitations, but that doesn't mean we can't learn to carry on and share what we know.Listening - It's just as significant as questioning. Oftentimes, listening to the sound

Depression Is Simon Cowell's Fault?

2008-11-24T08:24:00.003-05:00

Image by Eddi 07via FlickrWho’s responsible for your depression?I was reading an article on formal American Idol contestant, Nikki McKibbin.Although she finished 3rd on American Idol season one, Nikki ended up on Celebrity Rehab 2 in 2008.I was upset because she was almost blaming Simon Cowell for her depression.I believe that no one makes you do things you don’t want to do! Blaming Simon for

Anxiety and Anger, Is It All You?

2008-10-26T06:26:00.005-05:00

Anxiety attacks and anger go hand in hand. Have you seen someone with high anxiety; often called high-strung?What happens when you know or live with someone who intentionally pushes your buttons?After awhile your anxiety, including anger will rise just seeing this person.You need to stop giving power to people. You can cure anxiety by not allowing anyone to provoke feelings you don’t want.When

2 Simple Steps to Anxiety Attacks and Depression Relief!

2008-10-09T08:59:00.014-05:00

Anxiety attacks and depression can get severe if left untreated.When anxiety and depression are at their peak, you can feel hopeless.If you feel hopeless day after day, it can be dangerous.Simple Steps for Anxiety Attacks and Depression ReliefTalk to people about what may be causing your anxiety attacks and your depression. Don’t complain or whine. Sincerely discuss problems in your life and

Are You Sad Or Experiencing Depression?

2008-09-28T09:54:00.005-05:00

Are you just sad or are you experiencing depression? Every person is different, and what we experience is different. People don't realize depression is different for every person.Although several depression symptoms exist, this doesn't mean you will suffer all of them. You might have several, or just one.You may also be amazed at how many people can still perform in their daily lives while

Which Anxiety Do You Have?

2008-09-15T13:34:00.004-05:00

When you consider anxiety, you may not understand there are various kinds of anxiety. Social anxiety, panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, phobias, and generalized anxiety are the most usual kinds of anxiety.Social Anxiety is anxiety or feelings of anxiety that happen in a social situation, or in expectancy of a social setting. Social anxiety can become problematic if not properly

Social Anxiety and the Workplace Don’t Mix!

2008-08-15T10:53:00.002-05:00

If you have social anxiety, or social phobia, then you know the workplace can be agonizing.Social anxiety is an extreme fear of social situations and judgment by others. What worse place to “be judged” or reviewed than by your boss and fellow employees in the workplace!The way to overcome social anxiety is to expose yourself to social situations. Depending on how severe your social anxiety is

Social Anxiety | How To Help Your Child With School

2008-08-03T14:07:00.005-05:00

Does your child have social anxiety? Does your child have school anxiety?School is right around the corner, how do you help your child handle their social anxiety when school starts?Butterflies are common on the first day of school, panic attacks are not.Children with social anxiety have it twice as hard on the first day of school as children without social anxiety.If your child suffers from

Can You Afford To Have Social Anxiety?

2008-07-19T08:19:00.002-05:00

Social Anxiety is a fear of social situations. Whether it is meeting new people or attending a family reunion, social anxiety can be crippling.Social anxiety can really limit your quality of life if you allow it, so can you really afford to have social anxiety?If you allow social anxiety to run your life, you could have problems in the workplace, problems with relationships, and even problems

Do You Have Severe Social Anxiety?

2008-06-30T18:33:00.004-05:00

Do you have severe social anxiety? Yeah, so did I, or so I thought. Social anxiety is an extreme fear of social situations.I started researching social anxiety many years ago online. This was after I went to several doctors, was on many, many different medications, and nothing seemed to work.Every article, website, and blog I read, the message was the same. Medication and cognitive therapy

Sweden Is Not Social Anxiety Friendly!

2008-06-20T16:56:00.003-05:00

If you suffer from social anxiety or telephonophobia and live in Sweden, your life might have just gotten more uncomfortable.Sweden passed a law on Wednesday making it possible for officials to tap phone calls and email, making Sweden not social anxiety friendly!Supporters argue this ensures safety against terrorist attacks, while critics argue it invades privacy.Regardless, if you suffer from

Boost Your Energy!

2008-06-05T11:59:00.004-05:00

Anxiety, stress, and depression can really drain you. We all have stress so if you add anxiety or depression it can really wipe you out! What we need is an energy boost!How can we boost our energy without using caffeine and others that can cause us to crash once we don’t get our daily fix?There are many natural energy boosters available that are not addicting or “bad” for you.Boost Your Energy!

Crazy Easy Confidence Builder!

2008-05-28T09:45:00.006-05:00

Social anxiety, or social phobia, often means having low confidence or no confidence at all. If you suffer from social anxiety and have low or no confidence, you can follow this crazy easy confidence builder to build your confidence in no time.What are some traits of people with confidence? These people believe in themselves, they walk with their head high and shoulders straight and people with

Social Anxiety Trust Drug Cure or Curse?

2008-05-22T10:37:00.003-05:00

There is a new study showing a trust drug can cure social anxiety or social phobia. Social anxiety is intense fear of social situations.The trust drug is a nasal spray called Oxytocin, sometimes called the “Love Hormone.” You can read more here.Social Anxiety Trust Drug Cure Or Curse?Everyone is excited that this trust drug will cure social anxiety, and although it sounds good, it might be more

What Is Social Anxiety?

2008-05-18T17:19:00.007-05:00

This is a 28 minute video explaining exactly what Social Anxiety is and is not.Dr. Granet is talking with Dr. Murray Stein who is a professor of psychiatry at the University of California.These two discuss the differences between social anxiety and simple shyness. The video is called Health Matters: What Is Social Anxiety Disorder? Enjoy!

Social Anxiety | Stop Your Paranoia!

2008-05-12T08:11:00.003-05:00

Paranoia or being paranoid is a magnified mistrust of others not based on fact, and characterized by excessive anxiety or fear.Paranoia is often experienced by those suffering from social anxiety or social phobia. Paranoia can often be misdiagnosed as social anxiety, schizophrenia, and other conditions. Social anxiety can also often be misdiagnosed as paranoia.Stop Your Paranoia!Whether you have

Social Anxiety | Telephone Fear

2008-05-08T09:35:00.006-05:00

If you have social anxiety, chances are high that you also fear the telephone. I touched on fearing the telephone and just how crippling it can be here.That post was more for explaining what telephone fear is and how someone suffering from social anxiety feels regarding making or receiving phone calls.Overcome Your Telephone Fear!For help with overcoming your fear of the telephone this post lists

Social Anxiety | Public Speaking Fear Has No Cure!

2008-05-04T08:11:00.003-05:00

Social anxiety is the fear of being judged by others in social situations. With that thought in mind, public speaking is the ultimate fear for those suffering from social anxiety.Unfortunately, you don’t have to have social anxiety for public speaking to be a huge problem. Public speaking, or making any kind of presentation in public, is the number one fear reported by people of the United

Does Paula Abdul Have Social Anxiety? Video!

2008-04-30T08:42:00.006-05:00

I am a huge American Idol fan, and after last night’s shocking episode, I’m wondering out loud: Does Paula Abdul have social anxiety? It’s not uncommon for celebrities to have social anxiety even though they are in the public eye.Donny Osmond and Barbra Streisand both experienced social anxiety as well as hundreds more just like them; so again, it is not uncommon for celebrities to have social

Social Anxiety Sufferers | Stop Being Doormats!

2008-04-27T10:12:00.003-05:00

Stop being a doormat! You know you are, because you are stressed and full of anxiety. Those suffering from social anxiety are higher on the list of doormat placement. Why, because those with social anxiety want to please everyone.Social anxiety sufferers would rather be a doormat to those around them then to be judged by everyone around them. The problem is being a doormat can increase anxiety

Social Anxiety | Bullying Can Hurt You!

2008-04-24T12:53:00.002-05:00

I’ve been reading that a new study has found that bullying can hurt you and cause anxiety and social anxiety in adulthood. Remember what you were told to say to bullies? “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Well, I guess that was all a lie!Bullying in childhood can actually cause anxiety and social anxiety in adulthood according to this study. 210 college students

Social Anxiety | Recipe For Success

2008-04-18T12:17:00.004-05:00

I found the recipe for success for anyone, and especially those with anxiety, social anxiety, depression, procrastination, and just plain feelings of worthlessness.Recipe for Success!What are the ingredients for this recipe for success? Well, it is called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. There are only 7 ingredients in this successful recipe, but very, very highly

Social Anxiety | DASH Diet Laugh!

2008-04-15T11:59:00.003-05:00

Contrary to what I originally thought, the DASH Diet has nothing to do with Mrs. Dash. You know the Mrs. Dash seasoning line? Go ahead and laugh. We all know it feels good to laugh. It helps release tension and it lifts our mood. So what better way to get out of our depressed state and social anxiety tendencies? Here is your laughter for the day.Let me back up for a second. I am searching for

Social Anxiety | The Bachelorette?

2008-04-11T18:15:00.007-05:00

So what does social anxiety and The Bachelorette have in common? We all know social anxiety and dating go together like oil and water.The Bachelorette fans out there probably remember Trista Rehn when she chose Ryan Sutter in the finale episode. Well, social anxiety has nothing to do with either one of them, but it does have something to do with Jamie Blyth.Jamie Blyth was the first contestant to

Social Anxiety | Stress Zappers!

2008-04-07T13:07:00.005-05:00

Social anxiety and stress seem to go hand in hand. Stress can come from several different areas in our life, and when it gets out of control, we need to zap that stress!Do you work under pressure of deadlines at school or at your work? Is there an illness in your family or has there been a recent death? Do you have money problems? Or do you just suffer from social anxiety and everything seems to

Social Anxiety | Compliment Time!

2008-04-03T13:29:00.003-05:00

Oh, the dreaded compliments! If you have any kind of anxiety, especially social anxiety, you understand just what that statement means. Giving and receiving compliments is a great social skill to have, but it is the worst feeling when someone with social anxiety feels the compliment time approaching.So, what is one to do when it comes compliment time? Well, if you are receiving a compliment, that

Social Anxiety | Change Your Brain And Live!

2008-03-28T08:39:00.006-05:00

I am always looking for ways to help someone overcome social anxiety, and I stumbled upon a book that I think is fantastic. It is called Change Your Brain Change Your Life: The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness. I know, long title!To back up for a second, are you seriously trying to overcome social anxiety? Or are you like so many,

Panic Attack | What Not To Do!

2008-03-23T13:46:00.003-05:00

It is critical when you are having a panic attack not to panic. It sounds very simple, but if you are in the middle of a panic attack, it is very hard not to panic and cause the situation worse.Having a panic attack is similar to having a heart attack. Not pain wise, but the heart racing, the rapid breathing, the feeling like you can't breath, etc.So it is important to have some quick ways to

Social Anxiety | When Not To Be Assertive

2008-03-18T16:12:00.005-05:00

One skill people with social anxiety need to learn is how to be assertive. Yes, it is a learned skill because there's a fine line between being assertive and being aggressive.When Not To Be Assertive I have learned when not to be assertive, and that is when I'm darn sure I am going to come across as aggressive.Today was one of those days. I went with my daughter to her doctor's appointment. I

Social Anxiety | Homebody | Which One Are You?

2008-03-17T08:10:00.003-05:00

I've had extreme social anxiety which often turned into panic attacks, and I've also overcome social anxiety for the most part. One thing I still don't like to do is go places or run errands.Now, is this a form of social anxiety? Or is it just being a homebody? Social anxiety is an extreme fear of social situations. I don't have that extreme fear anymore. I still have anxiety, and I still get

Social Anxiety and Alcohol Abuse

2008-03-12T08:48:00.006-05:00

People with social anxiety also find themselves abusing alcohol or other mind altering drugs. I'm not talking the ones prescribed by a doctor. I'm talking about using alcohol and drugs for self-help to overcome social anxiety.I was on just about every medication you can think of to treat my social anxiety and depression, and I used to laugh and tell the doctor he would become rich if he could

Social Anxiety | Perfectionism Is A Huge Flaw

2008-03-09T13:32:00.005-05:00

Those suffering from social anxiety, or those with anxiety provoking traits, more often than not are perfectionists. Perfectionism is a huge flaw for those suffering from anxiety. It sounds a bit too simple, and maybe it is, but it's not as easy to cure.Think about it. If you are a perfectionism, you have huge expectations about yourself, sometimes so high, you will never meet those expectations.

Gene Linked To Shyness?

2008-03-08T11:04:00.005-05:00

So, there's a gene linked to shyness now? You mean it's not just all in our mind?CBS News is reporting that there has been a gene discovered by scientists that is linked to shyness in children and introversion in adults. The report goes on to say that they conducted three experiments involving kids, college students and young adults.The gene is called RGS2, and these experiments showed a

Shy Child? You Could Be Wrong!

2008-03-06T10:56:00.007-05:00

Are you sure you just have a shy child? You could be wrong! Your shy child could actually have social anxiety. Well- meaning parents and teachers often over-look the signs of social anxiety in children, or attribute them to something else... shyness, lazy, tired, etc.If your child seems very shy, you really need to start paying closer attention, and asking a lot of questions. If it is something

Shy Is Cute Social Anxiety Is Ugly

2008-03-04T12:26:00.005-05:00

Yes, I said it... shy is cute, social anxiety is ugly. How many times have you heard someone say, "Oh, she's (or he's) shy, isn't that cute?" Now, how often have you heard anyone say that about social anxiety? Yeah, that's what I thought.Even though social anxiety is an extreme form of shyness, in no way is it considered cute. People with social anxiety are actually considered lazy by most

8 Quick Tips To Raise Your Self Confidence

2008-03-02T11:05:00.008-05:00

As I discussed here, social anxiety often goes hand in hand with low confidence and low self esteem. Why is it important to raise your confidence level? There are many important reasons why you should raise your self confidence. One of the biggest is it makes life much more fulfilling when you have the confidence to do just about anything.People with social anxiety need to raise their self

Are You Really Paranoid?

2008-02-29T13:57:00.005-05:00

Are you really paranoid? Or are you closer to recovering from social anxiety than you realize? I ask and bring this up because I will be 40, older than dirt, something in a couple of months, and everyone in my life has just been used to me having social anxiety.They were used to me not calling a "stranger" to check up on them. They got comfortable with the fact that they could invite me to events

Anxiety Triggers Often Overlooked

2008-02-27T17:08:00.007-05:00

Day to day events and schedules can cause anxiety as we know, but some anxiety triggers are often overlooked. Nutrition plays a bigger role for anxiety sufferers than most people realize.The obvious anxiety trigger is caffeine. We all know we shouldn't take in too much caffeine. The problem comes in when we overlook caffeine products. Coffee is obvious, yes, and so is tea, chocolate, pop, and

Motivation Is Critical For Someone With Social Anxiety

2008-02-25T10:27:00.007-05:00

Why is motivation critical for someone with social anxiety? It takes a lot of motivation to recover from anything, but it is critical for someone recovering from social anxiety because we are always fighting against negative thoughts. Negative thoughts will bring us down fast and keep us there if we don't recognize and change them.Some people call it procrastination, some call it laziness, others

Social Anxiety and Dating

2008-02-21T09:39:00.003-05:00

Social Anxiety and Dating, what a scary thought! Social anxiety and the thought of meeting people is scary enough, but when you add in the fact that you might like someone and want to make a good impression, dating can be above and beyond anxiety and turn into a full blown panic attack.Practicing good strategies for meeting people is a great place to start. Good eye contact, smiling, learning

Social Anxiety and Social Networking?

2008-01-11T19:44:00.001-05:00

I am sure you have heard of social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. Those with social anxiety have a very difficult time socializing with others even over the Internet. However, practicing social interactions over the Internet can actual benefit you in the "real world."On a social networking site, you can send email, leave comments, bulletins, and even chat. You can meet new people

Social Anxiety and Imagery

2007-11-16T13:06:00.000-05:00

So, how can Imagery help with Social Anxiety? Using imagery is a great way to immerse yourself in feelings of peace and relaxation. Imagery is a form of distraction, allowing you to turn off any negative thoughts or feelings you may be having, as a result of your social anxiety. Imagery is also a way for the mind to tell the body what to do... relax. A peaceful scene can be anything you like. A

Social Anxiety and Self Esteem

2007-10-31T05:41:00.001-05:00

I believe Social Anxiety and low Self Esteem are very related. If you have low self esteem, chances are good you also have social anxiety. Although this isn't true for everyone, a healthy or higher self esteem can bring more confidence.So, how to we raise our self esteem? There are several ways, but starting small is key.Graph Your DaysGraphing your days is a great way to get an idea about

Social Anxiety, Shyness, and Other Conditions Definitions

2007-09-26T06:38:00.000-05:00

Let’s take a look at some definitions of terms and conditions that are commonly used together. Although this post is not for the purpose of self-diagnosis, rather to inform you of some condition you may be experiencing.Social Anxiety5.3 million adult Americans suffer from social anxiety. Wikipedia.com’s definition of social anxiety is an experience of fear, apprehension or worry regarding

Some Ways To Overcome Social Anxiety

2007-09-02T10:47:00.000-05:00

Positive ThinkingStart thinking positive. Rather than playing the “what if” game, thinking of bad things that could happen, start thinking of good things that could happen. When not-so-great things do happen, try to think of a positive spin on it.Stop Comparing Yourself To OthersOne of the most self-destructive things you can do is compare yourself to others. The only person you should compare

5 Things I've Heard and Always Remembered

2007-03-23T10:57:00.000-05:00

It's time to do something fun... We're going to play a game of blog tag. I was just tagged by FriendsWhoCare, now I am "it" and have to tag 5 other people. If you would like to be tagged, let me know.Write a blog post with the title 5 Things I've Heard and Always Remembered. List your 5 things, and then link or tag 5 other blogs.*I remember my mom always telling me that if I make an ugly face, it

Pets and Social Anxiety

2007-01-11T19:14:00.000-05:00

For anyone suffering from social anxiety, you know all too well about the fear of rejection. That is why pets are great! They miss us when we are gone, they love us unconditionally, and they forgive our mistakes.I posted previously that I had to put my Sasha down a couple of weeks before Christmas, and although it feels like yesterday, and some days are still hard to get through without tears, I

Social Anxiety and Resolutions

2007-01-01T16:11:00.000-05:00

I want to wish everyone a happy and successful New Year! So, what could a post about Social Anxiety and Resolutions have in common? Maybe nothing.I don't necessarily make resolutions, but I do look back on the year and ask myself what I want to change or work on for different aspects of my life.The one thing that stands out most of all, and you may be experiencing this in your life, is that I

Merry Christmas - can it be more stressful?

2006-12-24T19:28:00.000-05:00

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. I apologize for not posting if you happen to be following, which from some of the email I have received, I know you are.I haven't been able to post since I had major surgery, with many complications. I just couldn't sit at the computer long enough.I promised everyone that sent me an email, I would post again, but since

When You Think No One Is Listening

2006-12-08T18:09:00.000-05:00

I've had some circumstances that have prevented me, and has also un-motivated<< is that even a word? lol me from posting. I've often wondered if this blog was helping anyone. Encouraging anyone... Until now...I received a very nice email from someone who has been reading my posts and can relate to them. That is awesome. It's not awesome that this person is going through what I go through on a

Social Anxiety and Relationships

2006-08-20T05:44:00.000-05:00

I have posted about social anxiety and relationships before, but it is one of the hardest to deal with for me, and probably a lot of others. It is also something I am dealing with at the moment.It is hard enough for someone with social anxiety to meet people, let alone allow yourself to be open with your feelings enough to form a relationship. Pretty scary stuff if you suffer from social

Social Anxiety and Feelings

2006-07-20T05:15:00.000-05:00

People with Social Anxiety have a hard time expressing their feelings. Some may have a problem pinpointing their feelings, while others have a problem expressing feelings.As you travel on your journey to overcome social anxiety, you will find more and more feelings you are not used to. Partly because you have withheld them for so long. So it is common to have more intense feelings at first,

Social Anxiety and Depression

2006-07-12T06:18:00.000-05:00

Depression... what an ugly word, and even more ugly feelings to go with it. I'm struggling with depression today. You know the feelings of being in the "pit of hell?" Yeah, not good.But, it does prove a point. Earlier I stated that I am using Mindsoothe to control anxiety and depression. Well, since my surgery is in 2 days, I've had to go off Mindsoothe because it is on my list of "drugs"

Social Anxiety and Stress

2006-07-03T04:23:00.000-05:00

I apologize for my lack of posts. I have been under extreme stress lately. It is not an excuse, but for people with Social Anxiety, stress plays a big factor in how we handle ourselves and how we are able to function.I have to have major surgery in a week or so, and I won't lie, it is causing a lot of stress. I have been going back over the steps that I have been talking about here on this blog.

Support System For Social Anxiety

2006-06-22T08:51:00.000-05:00

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

Setbacks To Overcoming Social Anxiety

2006-06-17T04:47:00.000-05:00

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

Nutrition and Anxiety

2006-06-11T05:54:00.000-05:00

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:CaffeineAlcoholSaltPreservativesFoods to increase:Fresh vegetablesWhole grainsProteinAvoiding or limiting nicotine is good, too.Vitamins such as B vitamins and

Increase Your Risk Of Disapproval

2006-06-07T04:41:00.000-05:00

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

Self-Esteem

2006-06-04T05:37:00.000-05:00

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

Action Challenge Tips

2006-05-30T04:42:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I need additional help when I am trying to overcome my social anxiety by actually doing things and facing my fears. That is O.K. Social anxiety can be extremely hard to overcome for some people.I have listed some of my fears in prior postings, and one of my fears is going to the store. My therapist suggested I try the steps below:Drive to the store with my safe-person and spend one

Action Challenge To Overcome Social Anxiety

2006-05-27T08:02:00.000-05:00

I don't know why I have social anxiety, or panic attacks, or agoraphobia, or depression. It could have been my environment growing up, or some event that happened, I'm not quite sure.I do know however, that it is my choice to either curl up in a corner and live with these for the rest of my life, or get up and do something to change my life. I choose the latter, because I absolutely hate living

Learning Assertiveness

2006-05-26T06:09:00.000-05:00

Assertive... that is a scary word for someone who has social anxiety. The last thing I want to be is assertive. It is very hard for me, and for anyone with social anxiety to express their feelings openly.If you find it hard to:say no to peopleask for what you wantexpress your true feelingsYou may need to work on being assertive. However, being assertive and being aggressive are two different

Social Anxiety Forums

2006-05-25T06:18:00.000-05:00

If you are already a member of Social Anxiety forums, that is a great way to start communicating. If you are not, it is a good idea to join one, or several.There are many forums and discussion groups for social anxiety, panic attacks, depression and more. Just type what you are looking for into your favorite search engine and start looking.Look for forums with a lot of activity and members.

The Dreaded Small Talk

2006-05-23T13:08:00.000-05:00

If you are anything like me, you dread the words “small talk.” The words themselves cause me severe anxiety. Oh, I have to actually talk with people, they are surely going to see my inadequacies. Here I go with those negative thoughts again!The problem for people with social anxiety is that we keep our masks on all the time. We shield ourselves with a barrier, thinking only of protecting our

Additional Skills Needed

2006-05-21T05:24:00.000-05:00

Facing your fears whether you try the imagery process or the actual live process may be more difficult if you see yourself lacking certain skills.I always thought my social skills were poor. I have had several people, including professionals, tell me that my social skills were fine. Of course, having social anxiety, or social phobia, my thoughts about myself are very critical.However, when given

Social Anxiety - Exposure

2006-05-19T04:42:00.000-05:00

I have been talking about exposure - which is facing our fears.So how are you doing? Were you able to use the imagery way of facing your fears? Or were you able to jump right in to a live situation? Either way, it is extremely important to begin this major step in overcoming social anxiety.Sometimes, an opportunity to practice will just come out of the blue. That is what happened to me

Social Anxiety - Face Our Fears

2006-05-18T04:40:00.000-05:00

One of the hardest tasks in overcoming social anxiety for me, is actually facing my fears in a real life situation. However, to continue on our journey, it is extremely important.Once you have mastered your fear using the imagery process from the previous post, you are now ready to do it live! Do not move onto this step until you have mastered the imagination process. Just come back here when you

Social Anxiety - Taming The Beast

2006-05-17T11:48:00.000-05:00

We have set goals, analyzed, learned some skills, are armed with great resources, so now it is time for action! Social anxiety is a beast to live with, and it is time to tame the beast.If you are like me, you have become an expert at avoiding the situations that cause anxiety. Not anymore, it is time to face our fears. By facing our fears, we will learn:Certain actions will not cause disapproval

Social Anxiety Motivation To Succeed

2006-05-15T05:45:00.000-05:00

Motivation... The Heart To SucceedTo keep us on our journey to overcome Social Anxiety, we need encouragement once in awhile. We have done a lot of work, and we don't want to get in a rut.It may be a bitter experience, a great movie, or an inspiring book that will help us get up and get just the right amount of motivation we need in order to conquer social anxiety.With the countless negativities

Anxiety? Or Are You Just Shy?

2006-05-14T05:55:00.000-05:00

Is it anxiety? Or do people say, "Oh, you are just shy."“Oh, you are just shy.” Are you sick and tired of hearing that? Are you wondering what is wrong with you? Do you feel like no one understands? You are not alone!I lived with “shyness” all my life. Everyone told me to just “get over it.” I wanted to scream! Something is wrong with me! I can't just get over it!Then I got older. The problem

Resources For Help

2006-05-13T08:03:00.003-05:00

Social anxiety takes a lot of work and commitment to overcome. The good news is, it CAN be beaten. There is a wealth of information and resources to overcome social anxiety, ending negative thoughts, building self-esteem, and more. Believe! We don't have to live this way. YOU don't have to live this way. I am here to help. We can help each other. Just believe in yourself, believe in outside help,

Social Anxiety - New Beliefs Road Block

2006-05-12T04:39:00.000-05:00

Believing you can overcome social anxiety is a huge step. I can change my thoughts and expectations, but when it comes to changing my beliefs, I hit a road block and I feel like a failure.I'm not a failure, I just haven't succeeded yet. So what else can I do? Well, my beliefs need to be in my face, written down, as a constant reminder so they don't get trampled on by my negative thoughts.I found

Social Anxiety - New Beliefs

2006-05-11T04:30:00.000-05:00

It is extremely important while changing negative thoughts into positive beliefs to be realistic. If the new thoughts that are to be practiced are not realistic, there's a slim chance of overcoming social anxiety. People with social anxiety have practiced negative faults for a very long time. Changing these to positive thoughts will not happen over-night, nor ever if you don't believe them.I

Social Anxiety - Sub-personalities

2006-05-10T06:13:00.000-05:00

I have suffered from social anxiety all my life. I remember instances that happened when I was 4 years old, though I obviously didn't know at that time what was really going on.It wasn't until much later in my life after seeking professional counseling that I could actually put a name to the problem. During these meetings I have taken many, many notes. Going through my notes, I found a worksheet

Social Anxiety - The Road To Change

2006-05-09T04:21:00.000-05:00

Overcoming social anxiety is a simple process... on paper. For a person suffering from social anxiety, like myself, it is one of the hardest processes to go through.We've recorded our thoughts, beliefs, expectations, and analyzed and rated and dissected them.Now we have to change them. To do this, we have to develop healthier ways to think about and respond to social situations we fear. Bottom

Social Anxiety - Inaccurate Expectations

2006-05-08T05:47:00.000-05:00

Overcoming social anxiety is a very slow process. When my therapist had me doing these exercises, I thought she was a little nuts. However, I was and still am determined to beat this anxiety disorder, so I did what she asked, and continue today.We have to dig deep inside ourselves to figure out when we feel danger in social situations, why we feel that way, what thoughts are coming into play, and

Social Anxiety - Determine Our Beliefs Through A Thought Diary

2006-05-07T05:18:00.000-05:00

Today, we continue our journey to overcome Social Anxiety by studying our beliefs. We do this by looking back to our thought diary.Okay, let's assume that you've made an all-out effort to record your thoughts in the thought diary we started here.You should now have an idea of the types of thoughts you have while you are in, or thinking about, feared social situations. To keep the momentum going

Social Anxiety - Identify Our Thoughts

2006-05-06T05:08:00.000-05:00

People with social anxiety, or social phobia, need to identify their thought process as I mentioned in the previous post, here. To do that, we need to write down our thoughts as they are happening. Not days or weeks later. At the time we are in an anxious moment, we have to make note of all of our thoughts going on at that time. This is called self-talk that I briefly mentioned in this post.We

Social Anxiety - Affirmations

2006-05-05T04:51:00.000-05:00

Continuing with our journey to overcome social anxiety, I have to make an important statement.People with social anxiety tend to have low self esteem. Me included. What I was told to do may sound silly to some, but try it yourself, you will be surprised.You need to make a list of affirmations. These are statements to remind yourself of the positive aspects about yourself. Here are some examples:I

Social Anxiety - Fear Of Disapproval

2006-05-04T06:25:00.000-05:00

Social anxiety and disapproval seem to go hand in hand. Many with social anxiety, or social phobia, believe that they have to be liked and approved by everyone.So, we are doomed from the start. Not everyone is going to be liked, and not everyone will be met with approval. Remember the “you can't please all the people all the time?” Well, obviously it is true.This is huge for me to deal with on a

Social Anxiety - Our Mind's Reaction To Fear

2006-05-03T06:08:00.000-05:00

If you have researched social anxiety or social phobia, I am sure you have come across the term Cognitive Therapy. This is the best way to overcome what I call our “faulty” thoughts.These thoughts have no basis for fear. These are the thoughts that go through our mind in a normal situation that tells us something bad is going to happen. Like my examples here and here.A big contributor to our “

Social Anxiety - Breathing To Recovery

2006-05-02T06:08:00.000-05:00

Social anxiety is a long road to travel when talking about recovery. There are so many factors that play a major role in how we handle our fears, it is imperative that we seek help in determining what exactly makes us fearful.My writings are in no way a replacement for counseling. It takes a professional to help us discover the depths of our problem or our situation, the proper path to recovery,

Social Anxiety - Self-Talk Blues

2006-05-01T04:49:00.000-05:00

As I stated earlier, people with social anxiety or social phobia use negative self-talk. I was taught to counter my negative self-talk. Countering negative self-talk is very hard for me to do, yet if mastered, it is very effective. The whole idea is to replace the "what if" statements which cause anxiety, to positive and supportive statements.The example I used earlier about going to a concert

Social Anxiety - The Recovery Plan

2006-04-30T04:44:00.000-05:00

For social phobia, or social anxiety, the recovery plan can be long and uncomfortable. That is why we need to make a strong commitment, and have just as strong reasons for an effective recovery.Now that we haveAssessed our fearsSet our goalsSet our objectivesAnalyzed our behaviorsIt is time to put a plan in place. We do that by learning new skills. Skills that will teach us how to:Handle our

Social Anxiety Motivational Piece

2006-04-29T05:24:00.000-05:00

I want to take some time to give some encouragement on the road to overcoming Social Anxiety. The biggest factor for me is low self esteem. For those of you that can relate, I just want to say a few words.WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO IMPROVE YOUR SELF?Sometimes, when all our doubts, fears and insecurities wrap ourselves up, we always come up with the idea of “I wish I was somebody else.” More often

Social Anxiety - Incentive To Change

2006-04-28T04:28:00.000-05:00

For me, Social Anxiety, or Social Phobia, is about the worst thing I have ever had to deal with in my life. I would give anything to not “be like this.”There is hope! This condition can be overcome.As previously mentioned, you need to:Set your goalDefine your objectiveAssess your fearsList your fearful thoughtsList your behaviors or how you avoidNow all you need is an incentive to change. Why do

Social Anxiety and our Behaviors

2006-04-27T07:13:00.000-05:00

The biggest way in which I behave is to avoid. Avoidance is the easiest, yet worst thing a person with Social Anxiety, or Social Phobia can do.If there is a social event, I make up an excuse to not attend. Avoidance can work is subtle ways as well. If I absolutely cannot get out of a social event, I will use a safe person as I mentioned earlier. Someone to accompany me that I am familiar with and

Social Anxiety and Our Thoughts

2006-04-26T04:28:00.000-05:00

One with Social Phobia not only has bodily symptoms as I mentioned earlier, you also have fearful thoughts, or cognitions as well.Some of these thoughts, for me, include:I look out of placeI sound stupidI'll be rejectedI appear incompetentI'm too quietI look nervousAgain, you may experience some of these, and more not on the list.This is how our minds act in fearful situations. These are the

Social Anxiety - Assess Your Fears

2006-04-25T05:25:00.000-05:00

Social Phobia – Social Anxiety... Ask yourself, what are your fears? What makes you the most anxious? What situation causes the most extreme anxiety for you?For me, it is doing anything in public. When I am around peopleMy stomach starts to hurtI feel like I can't breatheMy mouth gets extremely dry so I can't speak or swallowI blushI get lightheadedI feel nauseousMy body feels tinglyMy chest

Social Anxiety Goals and Objectives

2006-04-24T05:24:00.000-05:00

Social Anxiety Goals and ObjectivesNow that you have your goals listed on paper, you need to study them and find the easiest one to accomplish. I know what you are thinking. The easiest is the hardest.If that is honestly your answer, then you have to think even smaller. If it is a trip to the mailbox, start with a trip to your porch or sidewalk. Think small at first.You've got your goal in hand.

Social Phobia - Setting Goals

2006-04-23T06:18:00.000-05:00

As I stated before, anxiety can stem from many things. You must find the root of your anxiety. For me, it goes hand in hand with Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety. I must admit, I've needed help, and through many counselors and therapists, I have learned a lot.One thing I have learned is you need to set specific goals. You can't just say, “I want to be rid of my anxiety or social anxiety.” You

Social Anxiety - My Avoidance

2006-04-22T04:46:00.000-05:00

Social Phobia is the least understood, but more frustrating, it is the least accepted issue by professionals and non-professionals alike.Without going into too much detail, because no one wants to hear other people's problems, I'll try to explain my frustration.I got a phone call from my doctor this morning with more “great” news. It is not a matter of life and death, nor is it serious enough to

Social Anxiety - The Telephone Call

2006-04-21T06:41:00.000-05:00

Social Anxiety can be very crippling. Here is another example of a perfectly "simple" task.Don't call me, I'll call you is a famous line. However, for me, it has a much deeper meaning.This is very hard to share. I feel “naked” and standing in front of a packed auditorium with every eye focused on my imperfections and flaws.Let's Make A Phone CallI try to make lists planning out my day. At the

Social Anxiety - A Trip To The Store

2006-04-20T06:26:00.000-05:00

Social Phobia, also known as Social Anxiety is very real, but often misdiagnosed. Some are labeled shy, depressed, or even paranoid. So, I feel I must share more specific daily struggles so those unfamiliar with Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety, can better understand.A Trip To The Grocery StoreA simple trip to the grocery store causes extreme anxiety. Before I even get to the store, I am worrying

Anxiety Controlling Me

2006-04-16T07:54:00.000-05:00

Most of the time I feel like my anxiety is controlling me instead of the other way around like it should be. What I say to myself... called "self-talk" is a very big factor in this.Let's say I have to go to one of my children's choir concerts or gymnastics competitions... instead of saying to myself, I have to load the camera with film, I should leave early to get a good seat, etc... I say to

Social Anxiety Help

2006-04-15T05:59:00.000-05:00

My anxiety stems from Social Anxiety or Social Phobia. Social Anxiety as I stated before is a constant fear of rejection or criticism by others.One thing that helps me is to have a safe person with me in stressful situations. A safe person isn't a person that is big and strong and will protect me. What I mean by a safe person, is someone I know, like my kids or husband, etc., that can be with me

Causes Of Anxiety

2006-04-14T05:05:00.000-05:00

Anxiety can stem from many things. You have to find the root of your anxiety. Is your anxiety at its peak when you:Have to give a speech?Entertain guests?Taking tests?Eating in public places?My anxiety stems from Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety.Social Phobia, the pits!... what is it? Is it just being shy? Not by a long shot. Social Phobia is a disorder, and I hate that word. But it's true.

Anxiety Recap

2006-04-13T06:21:00.000-05:00

To sum it all up, anxiety, social phobia, depression are extremely hard to deal with every day. If you don't have any of these issues, but know someone who does, please try to understand and be supportive.Help them to learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how they will get through the rest of the week or month, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different

Coping With Anxiety

2006-04-12T06:35:00.000-05:00

As I discussed earlier, avoidance is an easy way to deal with anxiety in your life. As long as you avoid anxiety causing situations, you are actually well rewarded. Avoid and no anxiety. However, it is one of the worst things to do because your fear about these situations will persist.I know I could and should be doing several things to "be rid" of my problem. I say "be rid" but I will always

Living With Anxiety

2006-04-11T07:44:00.000-05:00

As I stated earlier, anxiety is an irrational fear. However, living with anxiety daily, the fear seems all too real. My thoughts are real. The symptoms I experience are real. However, I do take that next step, and that is where the irrational fear comes in to play.When I was in school, the teacher mentioned we had to do a presentation in front of the class. You got your regular moans and groans