Overcoming Social Anxiety: Strategies for Empowerment

Social anxiety can be overcome by recognizing negative thoughts and building self-confidence through realistic expectations.

### Overcoming Social Anxiety: Strategies for Empowerment and Confidence
* 😟 Social anxiety is more than just shyness; it manifests as an **overwhelming fear of social situations**, often leading to feelings of **inadequacy and self-awareness**.
* 👥 Approximately **15 million people** in the United States experience similar feelings of social anxiety, highlighting that **you are not alone** in this struggle.
* 🔦 The "**spotlight effect**" causes individuals to believe others are focused on them, but in reality, most people are **preoccupied with their own concerns**.
* 🧠 Addressing the negative beliefs tied to social anxiety is crucial, as past negative experiences can lead to a **cycle of anxiety and avoidance of social events**.
* 📉 Challenging irrational fears and replacing them with realistic perspectives can help **reduce anxiety and improve social interactions**.
* 🎯 Setting realistic expectations rather than idealizing social situations allows individuals to **enjoy gatherings without the pressure of perfection**.
* 🤝 Accepting that not everyone will like you and understanding that **rejection does not define your self-worth** is vital for overcoming social fears.
* 😂 Learning to laugh off mistakes and valuing oneself fosters self-confidence, which is **essential for navigating social settings and living a more empowered life**.

In the past, we've covered how anxiety can damage your relationship with others and even yourself. However, the spotlight in this video is on social anxiety. Social anxiety is more than shyness; it's an overwhelming feeling of fear and dread at the thought of being in a

social setting. Social settings just highlight your own feelings of either inadequacy or self-awareness. The sweaty and clammy hands appear at the idea of having to be involved in a group. Why? Because you think that you may end up embarrassing yourself for making a bad

impression on others. These feelings are not as uncommon as you might think they are. There are approximately 15 million other people in the United States alone that feel the same way. In fact, social anxiety is linked to a group in Japan called the Hikikomori, individuals who choose

to isolate themselves from society for extended periods of time. So you are not alone, even if you might want to be. The thing is that while you might find these periods of solitude and social isolation comforting, you need to socialize with others. We humans are social beings after

all. How do you stop social anxiety from controlling you? Recognize where the spotlight is. A common symptom of social anxiety is perceiving how others perceive you, meaning you find yourself feeling uncomfortable or extremely self-conscious because you are aware of how others might perceive you. It's this

hyper and almost meta-awareness that triggers deep feelings of self-consciousness and anxiety, which makes you run from social situations. This bias, believing that others are watching you, is called the spotlight effect, but the truth is that most people are focused on their own

things they aren't really looking at other people around them unless it directly involves or affects them. Once you realize that no one is really looking at you, you'll start to feel a lot freer and less worried. Address the negative beliefs tied to your social

anxiety. So social anxiety is magnified and fueled by the ruminating negative monologue you have in your head. Negative social experiences often leave a scar that can affect all future possibilities. As a result, in the face of social situations you may start to fabricate

presumptions about how things will turn out. Usually your mind will paint you the worst possible picture, scaring you into not going outside. Sometimes these assumptions are not just about the event but also about yourself and your abilities. Consequently, you become more anxious and less willing to attend a

social event. To counter this, we can identify where these negative assumptions come from and what triggers them. Maybe it was a bad experience, or maybe the assumption has no basis. By learning the source of your negative talk, you can learn how to address it and

cancel it. Negative experiences or thoughts can trigger anxiety and then devolve into negative thinking patterns such as catastrophizing or mind reading. Challenge these thoughts by asking yourself: is this worry based on facts or assumptions? Replace irrational fears with more realistic and balanced

perspectives. Remember, just because you think something doesn't make it true. Be more realistic. Another factor that affects our level of social anxiety is expectations, societal or self-fabricated. Sometimes we idealize how a situation will play out or imagine how it should play out. As a result, we

have high expectations and our fear then becomes what if it doesn't happen that way? The antidote to this is realism. Realism helps get rid of unrealistically high expectations and allows you to live in the moment now, free of expectations. You may find yourself enjoying a social

gathering instead of dreading it. Be more assertive. Many of the tips I've given you so far are about handling the external atmosphere of a social setting, but sometimes your fears about social events are internal. Sometimes our own insecurities and inadequacies make us afraid to be

around others. You fear social rejection and therefore avoid being social, but what if you learned to accept this? You cannot please everybody, just as not everyone can please you. Just as you may not be friends with everyone, not everyone will want to be friends with you, and that is totally fine. Each and

every one of us has a reason for accepting or not accepting someone. Sometimes that reason is something as simple as not feeling it or not wanting to. Rejection from others does not mean that there is anything specifically wrong with you, so don't take other people's perceptions of you too

seriously. Whether someone chooses to like you or dislike you should not dictate or affect your self-worth. Learn to handle mistakes. Lastly, many people become anxious about being in a social setting because they're afraid to embarrass themselves, but the trick of getting over an

embarrassment is how you decide to handle it. We've all done something cringe at some point, like, like that, like what I just did right there. So what? Learn to laugh it off. I say this fully knowing that it might not be that easy.

but learning to laugh off a mistake or embarrassment starts with learning to value yourself and having self-confidence. Having self-confidence helps you overcome your social anxieties and makes you more comfortable being in a social setting. Why? Because all the negativity and fear of rejection

disappears. Learning to love and value yourself, learning to speak up for yourself and being confident is the key to overcoming your nerves. Easier said than done, like all things in life it's a process that involves rewiring your negative talk and maybe working with a

therapist to overcome biases that have created your social anxiety, but the journey is worth it. You learn to socialize and live a more empowered life.

How To STOP Letting Social Anxiety Control You

Psych2Go

Social anxiety is a significant fear of social situations, exceeding simple shyness.

It involves intense fear and self-consciousness, often manifesting physically (sweaty palms).

It's surprisingly common, affecting millions, and linked to conditions like Hikikomori.

While solitude might feel comforting, socialization is crucial for human well-being.

Addressing the Spotlight Effect and Negative Beliefs

A key aspect is the 'spotlight effect'—overestimating others' focus on oneself.

Negative self-talk fuels anxiety, often stemming from past negative experiences.

This leads to catastrophic thinking and assumptions about social situations.

Identifying the source of negative thoughts helps challenge and replace them.

Distinguishing between factual worries and assumptions is crucial.

Unrealistic expectations heighten anxiety; realism helps manage this.

Internal insecurities often fuel social anxiety.

Accepting that not everyone will like you is important for self-worth.

Handling Mistakes and Building Self-Confidence

The ability to laugh off mistakes is key to overcoming social anxiety.

Self-confidence diminishes fear of rejection.

Overcoming social anxiety is a process that may involve therapy.