Some people love being around people, talking, chatting, being bubbly, and just interacting. For others, such a scene is a bit too much. In fact, these social interactions may ignite some fear and anxiety. This is known as social anxiety or social phobia. During such cases, individuals may experience various symptoms such as an upset stomach, lightheadedness, or difficulty breathing. If you experience a social anxiety disorder, you may be wondering if you can break its spell. Fortunately, you can. All you need to do is take proactive steps. If you don’t know what to do, here are a few tips you should consider.
- Try relaxation techniques
During social interactions, it is common for you to tense up if you have social anxiety. This only makes the encounter more stressful and worsens the symptoms. Therefore, it is advisable to take on techniques to help you relax during such situations. Experts suggest practicing 4-7-8 breathing exercises. It involves inhaling for 4 seconds, holding your breath for 7, and exhaling for 8 seconds. This technique is said to put your body in a relaxed state instantly and reduces the issue of struggling to breathe. You can also consider taking CBD. Although there’s still a lot of research going on, scientists have found that CBD can be very helpful in helping people cope with various mental health issues such as anxiety. Therefore, you should consider purchasing various CBD products such as Delta 8 THC Vape Carts to help you calm down. However, you may want to consult your doctor or healthcare specialist to ensure this is a good option for you.
Other relaxation techniques you can also consider include progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, and meditation.
- Shut out negative thoughts
Sometimes, your thoughts are to blame for your fear of social interactions. The truth is, you spend so much time thinking of what could possibly go wrong at the event. What if you start sweating? What if they find you boring? You’d be surprised how many negative thoughts you can produce to prevent a social gathering! However, it is important to fight back when these thoughts pop up. An effective way of doing this is by challenging the thoughts. One way of doing this is by making a list of these thoughts and finding solutions to each of them. This makes you prepared for whatever situation you find yourself in. You should also go easy on yourself. Blunders would likely happen. Instead of beating yourself about them, you should consider solutions to prevent such incidents from happening regularly.
- Slowly participate in social events
Rushing into social events can be more overwhelming. Therefore, it would be better to take little steps. For instance, you can be more receptive to a conversation when a stranger strikes up with you or simply say hello when you walk by someone on the sidewalk. Even placing the order at a restaurant is a great step! While taking these steps, you can also practice various social skills such as public speaking or role play with friends and family to better understand what to expect.