Social anxiety
Hi! I've been having some trouble with socializing for a while now. I live alone and sometimes (specially at night) I get really anguished by my loneliness, it even wakes me up. But when I have the chance to get together with friends or co-workers, I end up not showing up. I fear that I'm going to say or do something stupid, I'm also afraid that I won't know how to fit in the reunions and I will end up all alone and quiet (this usually happens when I do attend social reunions) :(
Hello,
It seems like you might be feeling a bit anxious in social situations, and that's totally normal. It's important to know that it's okay to feel this way, and a lot of people go through similar struggles.
Have you thought about reaching out to a therapist or counsellor for support? They can give you tools to cope with your anxiety and boost your self-assurance in social settings.
Just remember, you deserve to connect with others and make friends, and by taking small steps to face your fears, you can achieve some great results. You’ve got this 🙏🏻
@Pemm There are many, many people who feel the same way. It takes courage to ask for help.
Anxiety can tend to act up at night because we are tired. It's natural.
If I were listening to you, these would be some of the questions I would ask.
You have mentioned you have friends and co-workers that you get along with. What have you said to them that has lead to you forming these relationships? In other words, what do you usually talk about with them? What about being in a different environment would cause this to change?
What is something you believe you can do to make a social outing bearable? As an example, I set a silent timer with my phone to ensure I remain in a situation I deem uncomfortable for at least thirty minutes. During that time, I remember to breathe, and that I can't control what other people think of me.
What do you look for in body language that tells you specifically that you have that person's attention?
Finally, what is the bare minimum of an interaction that you are willing to accept to feel as though it has gone well? For example. The return of a smile and a wave from a passing stranger.