How to Keep Your Anxiety under Control in Social Situations
For some people, entering a room full of strangers, having a job interview or eating in front of other people can cause anxiety that is debilitating. If you are one of those people, you may have social anxiety disorder.
According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, about 15 million adults have social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety disorder can cause you to avoid social settings because of an intense fear of being humiliated or scrutinized by other people. It can also result in such physical symptoms as rapid heartbeat, sweating, dizziness and nausea.
This type of anxiety disorder can negatively affect your relationships and impact your ability to manage your everyday life. But it doesn’t have to. Here are some ways to keep your anxiety under control in social settings.
Learn to Relax
When you are feeling stressed or tense, or anticipating that your anxiety is going to set in, you are likely to feel even more anxious. Find techniques that can help you to relax and calm down before your anxiety takes over. Practice breathing exercises that help you feel calm or engage in meditation to help quiet your mind. Practice these relaxation techniques before you are in those settings that cause you anxiety so that you can use them to keep your anxiety at bay.
Talk About It
A lot of times, managing your anxiety may simply require you to talk about what it is that is causing you to feel anxious. Once you are able to express your feelings and talk them through, you may not experience the symptoms of social anxiety disorder as intently as you once did. Find a trusted friend, family member or mental healthcare professional to help you discuss those situations or people that are causing you to feel anxious.
Change Your Habits
Your anxiety levels tend to increase if you drink alcohol or caffeine, or smoke. Many people turn to these substances when they are feeling stressed, but any of these can actually worsen the symptoms of your social anxiety disorder. Take stock of what you are putting into your body and make needed changes to better control your anxiety.
Get Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder
Learning to manage your anxiety in social situations may not be an easy thing to do on your own, and may require you to seek guidance through a residential treatment center for anxiety. Residential treatment centers provide a nurturing and supportive environment where you can learn to work through your anxieties and address any underlying issues that are at the root of your disorder.
During treatment for social anxiety disorder, you will likely attend individual and group therapy sessions that allow you to discuss what is causing you anxiety and learn healthy ways to manage your anxiety. You may also be prescribed medication such as Zoloft or Xanax, which can decrease your social anxiety symptoms to that they no longer interfere with your everyday activities or your social life.
Sober Living by the Sea is here and happy to help you locate a facility that is appropriate for your situation. Our rehab centers in Newport Beach include a women's addiction facility, a men's addiction facility, and long term residential treatment. We primarily treat issues like social anxiety when there is a chemical dependency issue present
, so it is possible that we may refer you to another facility if social anxiety disorder is your primary diagnosis. Call us for help at 866-323-5609.
