It is quite normal to feel nervous or even anxious when you are faced with a daunting social situation. Making a speech before a crowd. Trying to start a conversation with that cute stranger next to you at the bar. Being dragged onto the dance floor. It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous or agitated in any of these situations. In some people they can actually lead to severe physical and mental stress, commonly known as social anxiety. The first step in overcoming social anxiety is understanding why many of us react so strongly when facing social interaction.

There are many causes of shyness, but a few common traits and triggers are easily identified. People with low self esteem typically suffer from some degree of social anxiety. Fears of rejection and excessive concern over other people’s approval are also common drivers. The memory of a past social blunder can also result in feelings of anxiety that hinder a person’s ability to socially interact.

If you suffer from social anxiety, or even just common shyness, there are some tips that can be utilized to reduce or even eliminate nervousness in uncomfortable social situations.

Begin making little changes in your behavior

Acknowledge the people you encounter. Nod, smile, and say hello. Whatever’s appropriate.

Keep your eyes focused on the person you’re talking with. You come off as confident when you look a person in the eye.

Go out of your way to strike up a conversation with a co-worker. Nothing high pressure. Just talk about weekend plans or some other chit-chat subject.

By taking these small steps, over time you will begin to build confidence in your ability to socially interact.

Make an attitude adjustment

There are a couple of changes you need to make to the way you think and react in social interactions. Recognize and acknowledge that you will not ‘get it right’ every time. And that that’s okay. Also realize that people are not going to ridicule you when you do ‘get it wrong’.

You will occasionally trip when dancing. You will occasionally fumble your words when giving a presentation. And you will occasionally come off looking silly when trying to hit on a stranger in a bar. We all do.

Have stuff to talk about

Small talk drive you crazy? Become knowledgeable in current events and other areas that interest you. Have an opinion. Share it.

Become a better conversationalist

Don’t simply ask questions that lead to simple yes-no answers. Try to ask open ended questions or make broad comments that will encourage more discussion.

Speak in a slightly louder voice

If you are a shy individual, chances are you tend to speak a little more quietly or subdued than most people. Moderately raising your voice when speaking will communicate confidence and improve your presence.

Overcoming social anxiety can be as simple as adopting simple changes to your behavior. Beyond these simple changes, there are also a variety of social anxiety self help programs available. One of the most powerful self help social anxiety programs is Social Anxiety Secrets by Dr. Todd Snyder. His program utilizes both downloadable e-book and audio materials to provide a step by step plan to cure shyness and social anxiety.

Click to read a review of Social Anxiety Secrets.

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Many individuals have found themselves in situations riddled with panic and asking for anxiety help in some form or fashion. For people that suffer from anxiety, social interactions can be a terribly panic inducing experience. For such individuals, anxiety, in order to be conquered must be spoken of and put out into the light. I believe that group therapy is just the prescription for people who are suffering from an anxiety disorder.

I believe there a many excellent rationales for why an individual should be recommended to this type of treatment. There are several common rationales listed for encouraging a person with an anxiety disorder to enter group therapy, including:

• Group therapy functions much like primary therapy in effectiveness however it is far less expensive as the cost is balanced throughout all the individuals participating in the group.
• Group therapy brings various individual personalities into a dynamic relationship so that the patient can learn to interact with a wide array of individuals without inducing anxiety.
• Group therapy interactions can be examined in detail breaking down the specific feelings that you experienced while participating in the intervention.

Considering these facts, let us take a moment to examine why group therapy should be a treatment methodology of choice for patients of anxiety disorders. Anxiety, quite simply draws its strength from never being talked about. It is much like addiction in that way. The cycle of silence gives an anxiety disorder its potency. Unfortunately, for people who suffer from anxiety, the anxiety symptoms are often very over powering and cause a deep shame since they inhibit normal function so severely. Basically, no one wants to talk about their anxiety issues openly. Group therapy allows the sufferer to shine a light onto their anxiety thus reducing its power.

I have seen individuals who are so socially inept that they do not attend any social functions and have no friends come to grips with their social anxiety by facing it in the presence of a group therapist. They are forced, and this can be extremely uncomfortable, to sit in a crowded room and interact with people who they may not know well. These people often produce great anxiety in the patient However, in time, they become accustomed to interacting with them and are able to do so with less severe anxiety symptoms.

However, while simply interacting socially in a safe environment can have many benefits for people who suffer from social anxiety, the true benefit of group therapy occurs when anxiety comes up for the patient during the session. Because anxiety is so often kept in the shadows, very infrequently do these people ever get the chance to talk about their anxiety while it is happening. However, with group therapy there is the opportunity, with a therapist, to discuss the anxiety symptoms in plain sight of everyone else and to do so in an emotionally safe fashion. Because of this, the anxiety symptoms, through a process that can be difficult to describe, actually diminish greatly. Talking about anxiety has the effect of limiting the power of the anxiety. But, since the stigma associated with anxiety is so potent, individuals rarely get a chance to discuss openly because they simply do not feel comfortable to do so. As a result the anxiety, thriving in the shadows only grows stronger. Therefore, it is the frank discussion of the anxiety in value neutral setting that causes the patient to see a decrease in anxiety symptoms in their outside life.

Tags: Addiction, anxiety, Anxiety Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Anxiety Help, anxiety symptoms, Anxiety Treatment, Array, depression, Dynamic Relationship, fashion, Feelings, Group Therapy, Personalities, Potency, Rationales, Shame, Silence, Social Functions, Social Interactions, Sufferer, Treatment Methodology