Getting Over My Social Anxiety
Surrounding Myself with People
Ever since I can remember, I’ve struggled with social anxiety. In fact, the troubles began when I was six years old; my parents placed me in speech classes because I would rarely talk, and when I did, I mumbled.
I thought that, by my early twenties, I’d have overcome this anxiety, but there is still a lot to fix. So, I’ve decided to visit a therapist and enroll in a public speaking class. Time and time again, people have told me that one of the surest ways to become braver is to surround yourself with people who are natural conversationalists, and to slowly acclimate to larger group dynamics.
Hopefully, with these new opportunities ahead, I’ll be able to open up!
Breathing Techniques for Better Flow
Surprisingly, breathing technique dramatically impacts mental health. When I’m around others, my breaths tend to be shallow, which drains me of my focus and sometimes leads me into a hyperventilative panic attack.
My therapist has told me that I should take deeper breaths to improve my blood flow. She has also recommended that I practice talking out loud while taking deep breaths so that, when the time comes to engage in a conversation, I don’t sound raspy or feel winded.
So far, the advice has worked great; it has been much easier to talk to people.
Practice Socializing with Those You Like
My favorite people in the world are my mother, my father, and my best friend, Jessica. Lately, I’ve been talking to them a lot more, which has made me feel so much more confident; they never judge me, even though I sometimes stumble over my words. I’ve realized that, if I can feel so good around them, then I can definitely feel that way around others!
As great as talking to my loved ones has been for my social anxiety, it is a gift to simply spend time with the people I care for. There’s nothing as rewarding as strengthening close bonds!
Conquering My Biggest Physical Insecurity
One of my greatest insecurities is my nose; it has been long and crooked my whole life. Generally speaking, one of the first things anyone notices about you is your nose, and I can’t stand it when people gawk and giggle at mine.
For years, I’ve considered getting a tweak, but now that I have the time and money, I’m going to make that dream a reality and schedule a rhinoplasty. I’ll finally be happy with my nose, and socializing will hopefully become a breeze. After all, there are very few things more important than feeling at home in your own body!
Simply Facing My Fears
With all of these techniques and nuggets of advice in tow, I should soon be able to confront my fears and insecurities head-on, and with a smile. I might even join a social club to meet the sorts of people I know I’ll like or look into new hobbies that will allow me to connect with a community of friendly, likeminded people!
