Do you suffer from anxiety? Perhaps you don't feel very confident, and you find social situations hard? If so, there are many things you can do to help improve your situation and get out of your comfort zone. If you would like to see a therapist for help and advice, don't hesitate to contact New Dawn TMS Psychiatry. They specialize in TMS in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
This article will look at what social anxiety is and will give you some confidence-building tips.
What Is Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is a specific phobia related to social situations and building friendships. Sufferers may feel very anxious in social situations such as crowded cafes or when spending time with larger groups of people. They may not feel confident at speaking out or performing other tasks during this time.
Getting over social anxiety takes practice and determination. Be kind to yourself and take small steps out of your comfort zone. Confide in a friend or family member about how you are feeling and ask them to come along to social events with you to offer support. It is important not to completely avoid social situations as this will cause more long term anxiety. Instead, find a balance that you are comfortable with between staying in and going out.
Confidence Building
Confidence is a skill just like any other; therefore, it is a skill that can be practiced and learned over time. To increase confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth, it's important to have regular social contact. Humans are social creatures and need to have social connections and bonds to have a successful, productive life. There is evidence that suggests that people with a good social support system have higher levels of happiness and may also live longer.
Body Language
Look at people on the TV, friends, and family members or strangers in the street that you would consider to be confident. What type of body language are they displaying? Generally, people who are seen as confident display more open body language and confident stances. Practice copying the positive, confident body language that you see. Stand tall, smile, look people in the eye, look straight ahead rather than at the ground. Examples of negative body language to avoid are crossing your arms, fidgeting, or biting your nails as these could be seen as unconfident behaviors.
Your Emotions
Our emotions are there to guide us; they can be seen as a gift or a curse. It is better to see emotions as a call to action or as your body giving you free wisdom about a situation. Feel your emotions and follow where they lead. Get out of negative situations that cause you stress and anxiety and make positive changes in your life to create the life that you deserve. Honor and listen to your emotions.
Happiness
Ever wondered how some people seem to be more naturally happy and optimistic? Happy people focus on the good things in their life the vast majority of the time. They will still have their ups and downs but will look at life with a more positive view.
It is possible to learn to be happier, more optimistic, and less anxious. Figure out what makes you happy and do more of it. Have the courage to go after what makes you happy. Emotional states can be created consciously; decide how you want to feel today.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is just as crucial to having a successful, balanced life than IQ, maybe more so. Emotional Intelligence is about being in touch with your feelings and having the courage to feel them even if they are harmful and don't feel right. It's also about choosing how you feel through mindfulness. You can choose what to think about and how much time to spend on things that don't make you feel good such as worrying or gossiping.
