MINDSET MONDAY ARCHIVES

6 Tips for Overcoming Social Anxiety

I went to a concert last week and had to leave at intermission.

My social anxiety got the best of me.

I’ve spent the rest of the week thinking about how I could have better handled it and there are 6 core ideas that have come to mind:

1) First, set your intent.

Before you go into a social setting, decide who you are going to be in that environment.

Are you going to be a curious observer? A cheerleader? The funny one? The charismatic one?

By making that decision for yourself, it gives you something to hold onto rather than being in a state of reacting to everyone else.

Know before you go!

2) Control your immediate environment as much as possible.

When I went to the concert last week, I sat in an area where there were a lot of empty seats around me. That was a bad idea.

As people started coming in, my anxiety grew as I worried about who would sit next to me. Ultimately my frustration grew when the person who plopped down next to me was not someone I would have chosen to sit near.

I should have chosen to sit by someone I would be most comfortable sitting next to from the beginning. This would have given me as much control over my immediate environment as possible – diminishing the anxiety of the unknown.

3) Take a friend.

A wing-man can help distract you and get you out of your head.

Take a friend whose courage and calm you can borrow when yours is running low.

If you can go with a friend – go with a friend.

4) Plan your escape line.

It’s always good to have a line that allows you to excuse yourself from small talk situations.

You might ask where the restrooms are and then excuse yourself.

Or step away to make a phone call.

5) Don’t allow for “crazy-crawl.”

As I was driving home from the concert, I realized that I was allowing myself to catastrophize the situation.

It was one bad situation – my whole like isn’t bad.

It was one bad social situation – not all social situations for the rest of my life will be bad.

Remember that an uncomfortable social situation is just that – it’s not permanent and it’s not pervasive – it’s not your whole life.

6) It’s ok to leave.

You are in complete control – if you want to leave then leave.

It’s always best-practice to take care of yourself and do what it necessary to make that so.

If you’re someone who experiences social anxiety, I hope these tips help you create a better way of showing up.

You’re amazing, others deserve the opportunity to see that part of you!

SHARE THIS EPISODE

LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS:

Get Mindset Monday Delivered to Your Inbox every week

 

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

FREE RESOURCES

READ MORE

CONNECT

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

© 2024 Domino 2 Technologies, LLC | Institute for Human Progress and Development – All Rights Reserved.
Chad Peevy is a Certified Diversity Supplier.

© 2021 Institute for Human Progress and Development | Chad Peevy. All Rights Reserved.
Chad Peevy is a Certified Diversity Supplier.

Get the MINDSET MONDAY NEWSLETTER

Every Monday I send the Mindset Monday Newsletter to 5,965 subscribers. My intention is to provide you with the mental models, communication frameworks, and mindset prompts that you carry into your week.

 

I hate spam as much as you and I’ll never sell your information.

Get Notified When Registration Opens

Your Name
For which course would you like to be notified?(Required)