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Social Anxiety During Group Talks

5th December, 2009 - Posted by health news - No Comments

Does shyness or Social anxiety make social situations difficult for you? Many people experience shyness and anxiousness when asked to do something in front of others. Sufferers of social anxiety disorder however have extreme fears of embarrassment in social situations and avoid them.

This anxiety disorder affects people of all ages and develops from as young as infancy. Therapies have been highly effective in the treatment of social anxiety disorder. Although symptoms of social phobia can be treated with medication there are better long term options.

In addition to treatments, sufferers can apply self help techniques to help them overcome Social Anxiety. Daily practice of visualization and breathing techniques can do wonders for sufferers. Because the brain sees vivid imagination the same way as it sees a real life experience you can essentially rewire it without having to lift a finger.

Our thoughts have a lot of control over our emotions. Hence why we experience anxiety symptoms just thinking about doing something that we fear. Just as the mind picks up negative behaviors it can also learn positive ones. Like riding a bike the brain makes stronger connections each time until it becomes a subconscious ability.

Top athletes train their mind as much as they train their bodies. Champion tennis players practice their swing over and over again in their heads. Through mental practice they improve their ability just like through normal practice. New behaviors can be born from practicing visualizations alone. The amazing thing is it can be used for practically anything including overcoming social anxiety in specific situations.

Let’s say you have to present a meeting next week. When told this, thoughts of embarrassment spring to mind and you become very nervous. This then triggers anxiety symptoms including nausea, upset stomach, sweating and palpitations. On the day you feel like a total wreck and the experience is one you’d rather forget.

In social situations the behavior and thoughts of social anxiety sufferers is self sabotaging. Using techniques such as positive visualizations and affirmations can help recondition old habits and behaviors. In time with enough practice anyone can overcome their fears.

If it’s appropriate to do so use your imagination to boost your confidence right now. Locate a quiet place for you to be seated and close your eyes. Start to inhale and exhale slowly and deeply, and relax your muscles on each out breath. In your mind imagine what it would be like to be full of confidence and uninhibited in any social setting. Think about how you would stand, talk and gesture. Imagine how others would respect and treat you.

See your life without Anxiety symptoms and the new you brimming with confidence. Reframe negative thoughts in your head so that they help you in a positive way. Give yourself praise and motivating words. Vividly imagine the next presentation a complete and utter success. See yourself in complete control and everybody giving you praise at the end.

Keep building on this image for at least 5 minutes and then open your eyes when you’re done. Did you feel good? If you gave a presentation now would you feel as scared or embarrassed as usual? Daily visualizations will help charge your confidence. Think of confidence as a guise that you can slip on until you become that person. Don’t worry if you feel a little anxious on the day and things don’t go as planned. Just remember to stay calm, breathe and remember it will get easier each time.