Dealing with Social Anxiety

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The new thought patterns that just worked on can help greatly in dealing with social anxiety by reducing worry caused by "what if" thinking. Know that you can handle whatever happens, and you will no longer have to worry about all those negative possibilities presented by social interactions. The next step for you now is start placing yourself in situations reinforce these new attitudes. You are a person that must continually grow, and true empowerment will come when you start taking action in confronting the things that you fear. Those first exercises can really help you to get a grip on your anxiety, but don't try to completely eliminate your fears before confronting them. The full realization that you can really handle anything, and the real freedom from anxiety, comes as you prove to yourself that you have the capacity to go through fear. So get yourself out there into some social interactions, and put your new skills to use (practice doing what you fear) even if you don't yet feel like it. Don't wait until you feel confident on the inside to take action on the outside. Achieve true confidence means doing the things that you don't yet have the confidence to do. True inner strength comes will be yours in this way. So start looking for opportunities to practice. If you really want to overcome social anxiety, learn to invite and even love that feeling of nervousness and awkwardness that arises while you're interacting. Or whenever you notice yourself trying to avoid some person, interaction, or social situation due to anxiety, use that as an opportunity to practice being okay with your sensations.

See each social challenge as one with yourself. For example, you are not just giving a speech, you are confronting your fear of public speaking... Your objective isn't just on giving a speech; it is on being okay with the feelings during the speech. Regardless of the outcome, you will be successful because you got up, did it, and felt those sensations. So compliment yourself frequently, and know that even "failure" is success.

Repeat the following affirmations with the feeling and realization that they are already your own beliefs.

• I know that good things come with going through my social fears.
• The social life I desire will be mine by continually going through fears.
• Socially successful people go through fear of rejection. I do the same.
• I see anxiety provoking social situations as opportunities to practice my skills.
• Whenever I feel social anxiety, I take the opportunity to observe and accept the sensation.
• I now face social situations with an attitude of emotional confrontation rather than avoidance.
• My social fears are teaching me how to have courage when I am afraid.
• I do not wait for complete confidence before confronting my social fears. I know that confidence is CREATED by confronting fear, so I take action even when I feel anxious or unconfident.
• Even if the worst outcome occurs while interacting, I see it as a successful growth opportunity.
• It is okay to make mistakes. I value the growth experience and try again.
• I am now a non-perfectionist. I do not try to appear perfect to others. My interactions with others do not need to be perfect.
• My mistakes and imperfections make me human. I prefer to be human.
• I love and appreciate my imperfect life, imperfect events, and imperfect interactions.
• I love being an imperfect person. I love being a real and genuine person.

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