Everyone finds little different ways to manage their social anxiety on a day-to-day basis and it can be difficult finding what works best for you.
I asked a group of mental health & lifestyle bloggers what their top social anxiety tips were and now I’m sharing them with you!
Here’s what they had to say…
Erica @ The Incidental Parent
“Go for a walk. Fresh air, nature, a bit of exercise works wonders for the mind. I find it centres me and puts things in perspective”
Jenny @ And The Beat Goes
“My top tip is simply to make a list of the things you need/want to do and work through it step-by-step”
Lewis @ Adventure Brown
“My best tip with any mental health is have a go to hobby, something that makes you happy something you can escape to. For me its being outdoors with my camera.”
Ana @ La Bella Vita
“This might seem silly, but talk to people, preferably people who know you and maybe know you have anxiety, hopefully they will allow you to talk and they will just listen as it’s so important to get everything off your chest as this helps you. Saying stuff out loud makes it almost more real and sometimes solutions are found when things seem real, so TALK.. let people know you need help, or you are struggling that day. Do not be ashamed. If you prefer then talk to a professional, therapy works wonders for some people, and sometimes having someone who doesn’t know you makes it easier to express everything going on in your head.”
Kelle @ It’s Kelle’s Space
“With anxiety, one of the most important things to remember is to regulate your breathing. When you feel anxious, acknowledge your current state and take a few deep breaths. You’ll feel better instantly.”
Amanda @ I’m Amanda
“If you’re feeling anxious I find 2 things help me. Doing something with the wrong hand, brushing teeth, typing on phone etc. The concentration takes away from the anxiety. This isn’t always possible. So my other is to eat and chew something. Your brain can rest because it thinks there can’t possibly be anything bad going to happen because you’re eating”
Sarah Jenna-Jayne
“When you are having a really bad attack of social anxiety repeatedly tap your ring finger on the palm of your hand. It serves as a distraction and eventually it will become the main thing your brain focuses on, which leads to pushing the social anxiety out.”
Emily – Hippie in Lippy
“Push your boundaries and believe you can.
A new job has made a new me. I have never been happier or healthier and I thank my two amazing (Male) colleagues for being the best change in my life. “
Megan @ Reflections and Ramblings
“My best tips are from my counsellor; if/when I start to panic, count backwards from 100 in 3s/6s/8s/whatever you find difficult – this gets me focusing on something else long enough to calm down. Once I’ve calmed down I use the 5/5/5 method – ie will this still affect me 5 days/5 months/5 year’s from now – which helps me put it into perspective!”
Natalie @ Couch To Runner
“I have anxiety and depression but manage them both by running. I started out to lose weight but soon saw the benefits on my mental health and have stuck with it.”
Phil @ The Twisted Yarn
“1. Remember that however confident other people seem on the outside, they may be feeling anxious, too.
2. When I was very young and shy, my Dad gave me some good advice for social situations. He told me to ask lots of questions, because people often like talking about themselves.”
Katie @ Cake Vs Scales
“If ever feel in a hard place about how to politely say no to a night out, try these:
- “I’d love to come, but this has been an extremely busy week for me – Could we schedule a coffee and cake meet next week instead?’”
- “What a kind offer―thank you. I have already made plans this weekend, I hope you have a fantastic time”
- “I really appreciate the offer, but I’m taking the night off. I’m in great need of some quiet time. I hope you understand!””
Jo @ Tea & Cake For The Soul
“My tip would be to tell your friends, family or colleagues that you suffer from social anxiety. They may not understand it completely but it will help them to know why you avoid these situations and relieve your pressure.
Tell them that you’d like to go (wherever the invite is for) but you may have to back out at the last minute, or you might come and need to leave early, or you might even have a bit of a meltdown while you’re out.
This helps others understand why you might avoid social situations and also reduces your anxiety beforehand as you know you have a get out if you need one.
Often these things are fuelled by fear so eliminating that makes it so much easier.”
Lauren @ These City Days
“Be prepared – I always make sure I have certain things with me, even if I never use them for weeks or months on end, I always feel better if I have a supply of mints, rescue remedy, tissues, water. It may seem like a simple thing, but it all counts for me.”
Louise Alexa Sharp
“I’ve tried all sorts to overcome my social anxiety. Thinking I need to be more outgoing, pushing myself to mix more, then I realised I’m perfectly happy as I am. I’m happy to give that night out a miss, or that party a miss because this is me and I like me the way I am.
So my tip is to accept yourself as you are. If you can’t deal with the thought of going to an event, or party, don’t. Or if it gets too much, leave. I’ve tried far too much to fit in and be more outgoing, when the truth is I just don’t want to be.”
Have any top social anxiety tips of your own?
A helpful tip is to look for similarities in people when you are out socially. It sounds simplistic, but it really does help. It tends to have a twofold effect. Firstly, it draws your attention away from focusing on yourself and secondly it helps you to realise you are not unique. So how does this technique work? It works by looking for anything that helps you identify with those around you. It can be as simple as noticing that someone else is wearing the same style of clothing, someone has the same style or colour of hair, or no hair if you are bald. If shopping centres are a source of anxiety for you then just look around and notice how many people are buying from the same stores you like or buying the same type of groceries. It sounds almost childlike, but it really does work. Children tend to do this naturally so maybe we could learn a lot from them. If you focus on anything that makes you feel part of society rather than apart from society it can really take the edge of any anxious feelings.
Yes this is such a good tip! Thank you
I’ve been using an app called “Weobot.” It helps you to challenge your thoughts and reframe them in a more realistic way and helpful way. It’s interesting to look back on past chats with the app and think – why did I think that was such a big deal at the time? It’s to the point now where I don’t even need to pull out the app, I know what the end result is going to be and I can reframe the thoughts on my own.
Oh wow, thank you so much for recommending this, I’d never heard of it before. It sounds amazing!