5 Tips to Overcome Social Anxiety and Build Confidence

Social anxiety is a mental health concern that involves a feeling of intense fear about social situations. 

People with social anxiety have a fear of being exposed to the scrutiny of others and have anxiety symptoms like sweaty palms, butterflies in the stomach, and shortness of breath when they meet new people. 

Overcoming social anxiety can be daunting at first, but identifying social anxiety triggers and trying coping strategies can help you make steps towards managing social anxiety and building confidence. 

If you don’t know where to begin, keep reading for helpful tips to overcome social anxiety! 

• Try relaxation techniques

Deep breathing, and mindfulness are some relaxation techniques that can manage anxiety symptoms. When you start to feel anxious, try deep breathing. 

Inhale slowly for a count of 4, hold your breath for 4 seconds, and then exhale for a count of 4. 

It will help calm your nerves and slow down your heart rate. Similarly, practicing mindfulness can help you feel less overwhelmed by anxiety. 

It involves focusing on the present moment to tune into your five senses to slow down your thoughts and calm your nerves.

• Avoid your avoidance

Avoiding any social event may make you feel relieved, but avoidance behaviors can make your social anxiety symptoms worse. 

Recognize your symptoms and try not to engage in these avoidance behaviors. Reassure yourself that these symptoms are a natural response to negative thoughts, but your mind has likely distorted these fears. 

Some people use weed to ease these symptoms. Studies indicate that it can help to reduce anxiety in the short term. 

However, you should rely on reliable providers when you buy weed online and consult your healthcare provider before using it to manage social anxiety.  

3-Challenge negative thoughts and ask for support

People with social anxiety may feel self-conscious and think about potential negative outcomes of social situations. 

These negative thoughts make them anxious and cause short-term discomfort. Counter your negative thoughts and challenge them as they often reinforce your fears. 

Try thinking about these negative thoughts logically. You can also reach out to your friend or your family member you trust about your social anxiety. 

This will help you reframe your negative thoughts and provide support.  

4-Limit Alcohol

A small amount of alcohol might seem like a way to ease social anxiety, as it can help you feel relaxed. 

It can act as a quick fix, but relying on alcohol to manage the symptoms of social anxiety can often make it worse. 

When you build up a tolerance, you might need more alcohol to reduce anxiety. Eventually, socializing without alcohol may not be possible for you without alcohol. 

Moreover, it doesn’t allow you to build the coping skills needed to manage social anxiety. So, consider limiting alcohol and practicing mindful drinking.   

5-Meet New People

The more you expose yourself to social situations, the more comfortable you will feel. Attend a party and meet new people. You don’t have to introduce yourself to everyone. 

It will help you step out of your comfort zone and connect with new people. You can invite your friend to go along with you for support. 

Set a goal to meet two to three people at a party, which gives you something to focus on and helps you feel good about making a concerted effort to interact with new people.