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What is the best way to get over anxiety in social settings ?

25 Answers
Last Updated: 01/05/2021 at 8:49am
1 Tip to Feel Better
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Paola Giordani, Psychoanalyst

Licensed Psychoanalyst

I have helped and am helping people cope with loss, divorce, anguish and parenting. Depression is also a major issue that comes up.

Top Rated Answers
ConallBranagin
December 30th, 2014 4:41am
Anxiety in social situations can vary as much as ways to deal with them. being able to understand your specific triggers can certainly help you to explore ways to work your responses to your anxieties. Remembering to take it one step at a time and being okay if the first time you do not get as far or stay as long as you would liked. Of course if this is a major issue for you, I encourage you to seek out professional help. Talk to close friends and family so you can have someone who understands what you are feeling and you can even set up a signal to escape for a moment that they know so they can help you process and return or leave on. Eitherway having someone at your side is adviseable if possible.
intangibility
September 8th, 2015 10:33pm
Experience. Getting over it takes time, determination, and hard work. For me, I had to focus on improvement, not how good I was at the moment. So even if I messed up in social situations, I would treat it like a learning experience
Anonymous
December 29th, 2014 11:46pm
Remember that people are not there to judge you, and they likely realize your value as a person. You have just as much of a right to a voice as everyone else.
miltesers
November 16th, 2015 8:59pm
Breathe, try to avoid conversation with anyone that makes you anxious and instead try to talk to people you know or enjoy talking to.
warmSong4671
January 5th, 2021 8:49am
What is something you would tell your friend to do if they were feeling anxious in a public place? Now think if you could do the same thing you told them to do, try that. You can also do breathing excersises to help feel more calm. Make sure to remember that you are okay, and it will be okay. Try finding someone you know and or are comfortable with and chat with them on how you are feeling. If you can’t do this that’s okay. Take a deep breath and picture a place you feel comforted in, then from there you can remember all the things you love about this place. Use this setting to give yourself comfort.
Anonymous
June 26th, 2018 6:34am
To reassure yourself. And to consider what the worst outcome could be, and then decide whether it is all that bad or not.
kindHand56
April 17th, 2018 12:06pm
Learn to love yourself, know that YOU CAN do scary things. Change your mindset, it's the only way forward.
FreeFly1
January 1st, 2018 2:47am
There is no 'easy way to get over' any type of anxiety. Seeing anxiety for what it is and understanding where it comes from means you can then rationalise it which ultimately defeats it.
tylerH1999
September 25th, 2017 10:34pm
The best way to get over anxiety in social settings is to use coping skills that no one can tell you're doing. an example would be counting to 10, or deep breathing.
Swish2Swish
September 25th, 2017 1:13am
I struggled with stifling social anxiety since middle School! The best way to do it is to take a variety of small risks. Make friendly eye contact with strangers. Go to an event alone. Read up on the news so that you have a few interesting tidbits to share. Talk to a therapist about it and set up a strategy together to conquer social anxiety! Make small challenges for yourself, ie ask one stranger a day for the time. Strike up one conversation a day with a stranger about a simple topic - the weather, the news, or their neat hat or shoes! When you practice taking to strangers, it becomes easier to talk to anyone else! :)
Anonymous
September 19th, 2017 5:03pm
I struggle with this personally, and the way that helps me may not be right for you, but it may help. I normally take deep breaths and close my eyes for a moment before asking politely if I can go to the restroom or someplace quiet for a moment.
AndyT
May 15th, 2017 3:11am
Realise that whoever you meet are most likely also going to feel equally anxious about meeting you! They are as human as you are and we all have the need to feel accepted. With this, take many deep breaths, calm down. Watch some stand up comedy videos, or Improv, whatever that makes you laugh, and go and have fun!
Candy007
July 19th, 2016 3:26pm
Making less focus on ourselves, and try to logically analyze our situation and behavior. It makes it look smaller and easier to deal with :)
Anonymous
May 16th, 2016 4:06pm
anxiety comes when you worry about what others might think of you... and how you can please them so simply be yourself because if they were to accept you they will accept the real you not a fake you and be confident about yourself .dont let doubt get the best of you believe in yourself period.
brittbrownie
February 9th, 2016 10:16pm
Take deep breaths and ask to go get some fresh air. I have anxiety also so I understand. I can help if anyone has anxiety.
Anonymous
December 28th, 2015 8:09am
just remember that you are strong and brave and you can do this because thinking positively has a great effect on your life
4CinderandSage
November 10th, 2015 5:33am
Practice, take a break, practice, repeat. Believe in yourself, practice self-love, know you are worthy of being where you are.
Faithfuldoll
July 21st, 2015 4:27pm
Be yourself! Find people who you're comfortable with and who accept you for who you are ! Never give up !
Mary497
June 11th, 2015 5:03am
Practice makes perfect! This cliche can apply to social anxiety as well as its many other uses. The more you interact with people, the more you will realize that it won't go as you expect, it will turn out fine!
JustAWallflower
June 7th, 2015 8:07pm
For me, I like to find a quiet place to be alone and take a few deep breaths before returning to the social situation. Sometimes it helps for me to be alone outside and get some fresh air or to talk to someone I trust through my cellphone.
indiesky
January 6th, 2015 12:55am
Breathe and remember that soon it will pass and you can go home. Your anxiety will go away, but to handle it, you just have to breathe.
Kathryn123
January 1st, 2015 11:41pm
Practice breathing and grounding techniques. Do things you wouldn't normally do due to your anxiety, no matter how small.
Anonymous
December 30th, 2014 10:03am
In my experiences, I would say the best way to get over anxiety in social settings would be to take slow, deep breaths in case of any fears running through your head. If they do appear, shout this line in your head: "Everything will be fine. I can be a social person."
HattieMae
December 30th, 2014 5:00am
Remember that people are just people. They have interests and hopes and dreams and quirks like you are not this higher authority that you might be afraid of. No one is perfect , and I think we all need to remember that when we're in public. That its ok to let our guard down and me authentic.
Anonymous
December 30th, 2014 3:48am
I would say its more than confidence and accepting yourself , because once you accept yourself you might cut off some emotions that you once had in the past that might do a slight difference.