Dealing with Social Anxiety can be tough but there are many things you can do to make you more comfortable in social situations. Learning to control your emotions and thoughts is not easy but it is possible to gain a considerable amount of control in little time. By making small changes to the way you react and think, you can slowly make improvements.

First, make an effort to adjust your thinking towards a more positive one. Avoid talking to yourself in a negative manner. Using the power of visualizations, practice being a pillar of confidence everyday. By building these positive visual memories you’ll start feeling a bit more confident.

For most sufferers of social anxiety disorder, simply thinking about certain experiences is enough to cause symptoms. Vivid imagination and real life experiences act on the nervous system the same way. You can use this to your advantage. Next time you know that your anxiety will spring on you, vividly imagine everything going smoothly beforehand.

Everyone has had a negative experience but it’s pointless to dwell on the past. Don’t replay bad experiences in your head over and over again. We tend to blow bad experiences out of proportion and avoid similar situations in the future. Remember, nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes.

Using distractions can help you take your mind off something that’s bothering you; go for a run, exercise, read or bake a cake. Another idea you can try is to rerun negative experiences in your head but in a positive way. See yourself strong and confident, make it funny and bright, and see things going perfectly.

Gradually change the way you act; be more assertive, make your voice louder and stand up straighter. Picture someone who is confident and assertive and mimic what they do. Study what they do that makes them appear confident; their body language, speech and behavior. Make an effort to practice these behaviors and introduce them to your work environment.

Stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine should be avoided as they will only worsen social anxiety symptoms. Drink relaxing herbal drinks and make the effort to really unwind everyday. Laugh more and have more fun; watch comedies and read jokes.

These simple tips for social anxiety can make a difference in your life. Be patient as changes to behavior can take time. There are however powerful therapies that can make rapid changes and help you overcome this debilitating disorder quickly. For more on these advanced techniques visit the social anxiety blog.

Quick Tips For Social Anxiety from Nathan Tyler on Vimeo.

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