Social Anxiety – What It Is and How to Deal with It
Seven effective tips to deal with social anxiety A person giving a speech or meeting new people may be faced with one of the two problems: either he is shy or he suffers from social anxiety. Symptoms of social anxiety Social anxiety symptoms may be emotional or physical. Physical symptoms are there for everyone to see such as a red face, upset stomach, trembling, feeling dizzy, sweating, or fast heartbeats. Emotional symptoms include the fear of being humiliated and fear of being watched by others. These lead to behavioral symptoms such as avoiding all social gatherings or being around friends during every occasion. Recommended Read: Ways to Set and Keep Your Personal Boundaries Treatments for social anxiety disorder Focus on others: If one continues to think about oneself and have negative thoughts running through his mind, it is advisable to shift your thoughts to others and start interacting with them. Paying more attention to what others are saying and removing negative thoughts about oneself is a great bonus. Control your breathing: Many people, in their anxious state, start breathing roughly and the heart rate suddenly starts increasing. It might lead to suffocation, heart attacks or muscle tension. In such situations, it is better to start learning to control your breathing through a number of breathing exercises.