How to overcome social anxiety?

[zeezou]

Hello everyone, hope you all are doing well. I am new here and I love how welcoming this little community is. There are a few things that I have decided to work on this year to make my life better because I am lowkey done with depression always on the wheel. I know it's not easy but I have decided to do it nonetheless. What I need is some motivation and some good tips on how to put myself out there because that's the first thing I have planned to work on. I am looking to engage in meaningful conversations that would expand my perspective but I am clueless about how to actually initiate friendships. I've had friends but because of my never-ending rough patches, I lost most of them. I am trying to start from scratch and would love to hear of anything that worked for you. Do not shy away from sharing anything, literally any little thing that helped. Thank you, have a great day. 😊

[Lettuce_17]

It's simple don't be afraid to be yourself... Losing friends cause of rough patches is hard and I'm a victim too..We lost them not because we became afraid of being ourselves we felt like we not go enough and with time we become that and they actually leave... But since you want a fresh start be yourself and true friends will come..... You can even start with me cause we really alike LoL....

[zeezou in reply to Lettuce_17]

Thank you for your kind words. I am trying my best and hopefully, I'll figure it out soon.

[Beavis2022]

There are lots of people just like you, myself included. Do you have depression? That could be it, or some other unknown cause. We're all different. Try to be happy doing things by yourself; whatever you enjoy. My feelings come & go also, and it's hard to make plans and have friends. Just look out for yourself and your happiness.

[zeezou in reply to Beavis2022]

Thank you for replying. Yes, it is depression plus severe anxiety and fear of judgement even though I am surrounded by such kind, loving people. Sometimes, I get so frustrated at my mental condition because it keeps me from being grateful for a lot of things. But I feel like I cannot fight it anymore so I have decided to accept that fighting something that's inside is going to be futile. Let's see how it will go. Thanks once again for your words, I appreciate it.

[RS1974]

Welcome to our community 😊Maybe go to your local library or coffee shop. Or even a grocery store just somewhere where you can meet and talk to people.Good luck sweetie 🥰

[Pandora777 in reply to RS1974]

That’s a good idea I go to my villages pottery class once a week for a couple of hours. Some of my pots have not exactly turned out how I would have liked but I have met many people there who are similar to myself

[RS1974 in reply to Pandora777]

That's great you go to pottery class. Must be fun and I'm sure your pots are beautiful 😊So glad your meeting people 😊 Keep up the good work 👏

[zeezou]

Thank you for the tip, I hope I will actually do this instead of rotting in my room. I have high hopes this time, though.

[Pandora777]

I have had times in my life when I have become a recluse because I was bedridden with Graves’ disease. At the moment I am in remission and trying to cram as much social activity as I can because I don’t know how long this will last. I have lost many friends because they do not understand what this disease is like and even my own family have told me to pull myself together and get on with it.

[zeezou in reply to Pandora777]

Sorry to hear that. I love how you haven't given up and are trying to be as social as you can. I hope to see that sort of dedication in my own self as well.

[Beevee]

My tip is to never let those negative thoughts and feelings dictate your life. Feel the fear, depression etc and do it anyway!

If you make your life bigger than anxiety, overcoming anxiety and depression is just a matter of time. Your focus gradually moves away from constant internal monitoring of thoughts and feelings to other stuff.

This switch gives your mind and body the time and space it needs to heal, as nature intends, and for those pesky symptoms to fade away.

Best wishes!

[zeezou]

Thank you for your words, this is actually the plan lol. My depression might be a baddie but I am going to be a bigger baddie whether I like it or not. 😜

[Beevee in reply to zeezou]

Love it ❤️👏🏼👏🏼💪🏼💪🏼 and absolutely the right attitude to free yourself from those shackles!

More often than not, depression occurs because your mind is tired of worrying about how you are feeling and the brain's way of coping with the overload so it doesn't shut down completely.

Think of it like a rechargeable battery that has run flat. Depression is a depressing word but a far more accurate word to use is depletion because that describes what is actually happening. It's just a much more severe response when you compare it to mind block after studying for too long. The brain stops absorbing information and time to take a break.

Accepting your depression and continually moving forward despite how you might be feeling allows the brain to take that much needed break and replenish that battery. The fog of depression gradually disappears.

You'll do just fine!