social anxiety

[Matchaloves]

Hi everyone

I’ve been dealing with a lot of social anxiety. It’s really getting to me. It’s been such a struggle to go out in public these past weeks.

I really want to go out and enjoy being out.

I’m really pushing myself to get out there. I feel stuck in a cycle. I’ve been out a couple of times and was fine with no worries. I don’t know what is triggering my anxiety. I blush and get really red and feel intimidated and can’t get through with my shopping.

Has anyone felt this way or gone through this?

I could really use some advice or someone to chat with.

[Noodles1004]

I have experienced that for as long as I can remember, mine comes in waves. You’re not alone. Some days I’m completely fine being out and about but others it’s so overwhelming as if all eyes were on me judging my every move.

[LoveforAll41]

Hola Matchaloves, I am sorry that you are dealing with this. It drives me crazy that at times we can be fine doing things and other times, at least personally, the thought of taking a shower makes me so anxious. I am not an expert, but I really love the book "Feeling Great" by David Burns and the Feeling Good podcast. He talks about getting our anxiety to a manageable level, not just eliminating it, because it has value and is trying to tell us something. There is also the book "The Subtle Art of not Giving a F***" that talks about how everyone is in their own world. I wish you peace ☮️

[Matchaloves in reply to LoveforAll41]

Thank you I will definitely check out these . I listened to an audiobook by Dr Claire Weeks on YouTube. It explains a lot and really touched base of all these feelings. Her advice of not fighting the feeling helped me recognize the fight or flight. I started to tremble at the sight of the check out and I didn’t fight it I embraced it and it actually calmed down. I was able to complete my purchase. Usually when this happens I’m out and I leave. I hope am able to keep working on this and one day it would just leave

[Beevee in reply to LoveforAll41]

If you feel the fear and do it anyway, you will overcome anxiety.

[designguy]

I had social anxiety for years and recovered. My suggestion is to find a therapist that specifically treats social anxiety, they will typically use group and exposure therapy as well as teaching you new ways to perceive others and how they perceive you. SA makes you believe that people are constantly judging you when in reality they are too caught up in their own thoughts to pay you any attention at all. i went for years thinking people were always judging me and didn't like me until I realized that just the opposite was true. Determining why and how you developed SA also can help, in my case I grew up in an emotionally repressive household and was shamed and punished for showing any signs of being proud of myself or trying to stand up for myself, I was also bullied in school. I also had low-self-worth which is common with those with SA. if there isn't a therapist near you, there are resources and programs online, I like Sebastiaan at Social Anxiety Solutions, he had SA and now helps others recover. There is also a lot of good resources on youtube you can check out, the more you educate yourself about SA and how to recover the sooner you can recover. I like Emma at Therapy in a nutshell, and Paige Pradko.