Social anxiety

[Shashwat2331]

Hello, I have severe social anxiety. I had selective mutism in childhood. I feel hopeless. I have low self-esteem. I don't know what to do. Please help!

[cherryblossomm]

The best advice I can give you is to breathe. Think about the positive things that you can like what your best features are. If you are having trouble looking up positive quotes just on google can also help. Next, try reaching out to people, family, any type of friends you might have, school acquaintances etc. Just be yourself! You don't have to talk to them about your personal issues just having a nice convo with a person helps me when I am in a really bad funk. Social anxiety for me looks like I am just shy, try branching out! What races through your mind when debating on talking to someone or not?

[designguy]

Hello. As someone who use to suffer with social anxiety, I suggest you try to find a therapist who specializes in treating it so you can learn why and how you developed it and the tools and skills to help you recover. Basically, social anxiety is a learned way of distorted thinking and behavior and you need to learn new ways of helpful thinking and behavior to recover. Working with a therapist who specializes in treating it can provide you with those.

If there aren't any therapists near you there are online programs you can utilize. There wasn't a specialist near me so I used a program from socialanxietyinstitute.org/

You will need to being uncomfortable and getting the help you need and the determination that you can recover and keep making progress. There will be setbacks but that is part of the process. Best to you and your recovery.

[designguy]

I want to add that I also found The DARE Anxiety book and program by Barry McDonaugh very helpful in learning how to accept the anxious thoughts and feelings, it also applies to help for social anxiety.