There are many ways to alleviate social fears. Check out the different means below.
FROM AVOIDANCE TO ENCOUNTERing
If you’re nervous, you may feel tempted to avoid situations that cause nervousness. This makes you feel better in the moment and, therefore, feels like an attractive option. In the longer term, however, avoiding social situations increases nervousness, narrows one’s circle of life, and makes relationships more difficult. Facing social situations at the appropriate pace and with adequate support is, therefore, key for easing nervousness.
LISTEN TO YOURSELF
Self-awareness also plays an important role in reducing nervousness. Learn to identify factors, situations, and thought patterns that feed and facilitate your nervousness. You can ask yourself:
- What are your uncertainty and nervousness connected to in particular?
- In what social situations does it occur?
- How long has it been going on? Is it continuous or sporadic?
- What kinds of feelings and thought patterns are associated with your nervousness?
- What eases the nervousness?
By exploring your nervousness, you will get to know yourself and your emotions better. At the same time, you can find new ways to ease nervousness.
SHOW SELF-COMPASSION
Being compassionate and accepting towards yourself is one of the best ways to relieve nervousness. Instead of trying to let go of nervousness, you can learn to live with it in small steps. Being nervous is a natural part of life. When you accept yourself as you are, without fighting the nervousness, you may gradually find that the feelings associated with it alleviate.
PRACTISE RELAXATION
You can alleviate social anxiety and the feelings related to it with a range of relaxation exercises. Calming breathing, inner speech, or muscle relaxation exercises are some of these methods. Awareness skills, on the other hand, will help you face uncomfortable situations in an alert, present, and non-judgmental state of mind.
To ease your social anxiety and nervousness, it is important to set realistic goals for yourself. Remember, you don’t have to get rid of nerves completely – everyone gets nervous sometimes. The most important thing is that you can deal with your nervousness and that it doesn’t limit your life too much.
IF YOUR OWN MEANS ARE NOT ENOUGH
When nervousness becomes intense, it is worth seeking help to overcome it. If you feel that nervousness is having a significant impact on your life, both socially and emotionally, don’t struggle with the problem alone. Contact a professional, such as a nurse, doctor, or psychologist, to discuss your situation. You may also find different kinds of nervousness-related support groups and peer groups at your place of study or student health centre.
The source for this text is an article from the Finnish Student Health Service (YTHS): Social anxiety.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET RID OF ALL NERVOUSNESS. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU CAN COPE WITH YOUR NERVOUSNESS AND IT DOESN’T LIMIT YOUR LIFE TOO MUCH.