6 Social Anxiety Tips Every Person Should Consider

Social anxiety is a disorder that affects 6.8 million adults in the United States alone. It has been described by those who have experienced it as an “intense fear of social situations” (Anxiety Disorders Association of America). It can be difficult to manage on your own, but there are many tips you can use to help keep your social anxiety under control! Here are six things every person should consider when they’re struggling with their social anxiety.

1) Find a supportive friend group

A lot of the anxiety people feel when they’re anxious stems from the fear of being judged by others. If you have a close-knit support system to turn to when your social anxiety is high, it can be far easier for you to cope with your symptoms and get through those situations more smoothly than if you don’t have that support. In addition, if you have a friend group that will go out of their way to make sure they’re supportive and understanding, then it can be much easier for you to open up about your anxiety symptoms.

2) Educate yourself on the disorder

Many people who struggle with social anxiety are afraid that they’re going to be judged by others for their behaviors and symptoms. If you understand exactly what’s happening during those times when your world seems like it’s crashing in around you, then you’ll have a far better idea of how to keep calm and not let your anxiety get too out of control. For example, you might know that hyperventilating or feeling weak in the knees is a side effect of increased blood pressure and heart rate – then rather than being afraid about what others will think if they see you acting this way, it can be easier for you to accept those physical symptoms as a natural part of your anxiety and try to keep calm.

3) Don’t be afraid to ask for help

If you’re struggling with social anxiety, it can sometimes feel like no one understands what you’re going through. Unfortunately, this leads many people who struggle with their mental health to try and go it alone rather than speaking up about what they’re experiencing and asking for help. However, many people can help you manage your anxiety – it’s just a matter of finding the right person for you. In addition, if there is someone around that seems to have an answer or solution to any problem you might be facing when trying to cope with social anxiety, don’t be afraid to ask them for their input and opinion on how you can handle the situation better.

4) Try to avoid stressful and overwhelming situations

People who struggle with social anxiety will often try their best to avoid any situation where they think people might judge them, unfairly or not. However, this avoidance can actually make it far more difficult for you to manage your symptoms in the long term because you are restricting yourself from doing things. Instead, if you try to aim for a healthy medium between being in situations that are too stressful and overwhelming for your anxiety but also being able to do things that might be fun or fulfilling in some way, then you’ll find it easier over the long term to manage your social anxiety.

5) Make sure you’re getting enough sleep

Anxious people often have a rough time falling asleep because they can’t stop thinking about everything that might be going wrong in their lives. It’s important to make sure you get enough rest every night so that your brain has the chance to relax and recover from any negative thoughts that may pop up. If you’re having a hard time falling asleep, then try to avoid spending too much time on your devices (phones and computers) before bed, as the blue light they produce can disturb your circadian rhythm.

6) Practice positive self-talk

One of the most common symptoms of social anxiety is negative thoughts about yourself and your life. These can make it difficult for you to feel like things are going well, but they’re also not representative of reality – so practicing good habits when thinking about yourself (and others) will help you see that those negative thoughts aren’t the truth. For example, you could try to set a routine where you have negative thoughts about yourself or your life, instead of believing them and keeping them inside but acting like everything is fine in front of other people. You can tell yourself that they’re wrong and not representative of reality.

Social anxiety is a common mental health problem that can make it difficult for you to live your life in the way you want. However, if you practice good habits and find ways of coping with your symptoms, then over time, things will become easier and less overwhelming than they might seem right now. While there is no ‘quick-fix for your mental health, there are many small steps–like smoking weed from these pipes–you can take that will help make a living with social anxiety more manageable.