It may come as a surprise to know that social anxiety is actually one of the most common anxiety disorders despite the fact it is widely misunderstood by medical health professionals and can often be mis-diagnosed. If you're aware of the fact you're suffering from social anxiety to some degree then fear not as there are ways of overcoming social anxiety.
Common treatments for social anxiety
Most commonly when a person is known to be experiencing social anxiety a form of therapy treatment known as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is usually recommended. CBT has a high success rate for helping patients overcome social anxiety as it addresses the root causes of the disorder.
It's also not uncommon for a course of medicinal treatment to be recommended dependent on how severe the patients social anxiety is. Although medicinal remedies may help a patient cope day to day on a short-term basis they don't provide a means to tackle social anxiety long-term and should not be considered a viable solution for overcoming social anxiety unless coupled with therapy treatment.
Overcoming social anxiety naturally
The first step in overcoming social anxiety naturally is to first identify the triggers and causes for your social anxiety and then to change your attitude and the way you react to your social anxiety. I know easier said than done! This really is a key area that goes beyond the scope of this article but the following are two areas regarding your attitude you should consider.
Have realistic expectations: The first area is to have realistic expectations, if you are going to set new goals relating to overcoming social anxiety then try to ensure they're goals that will push you but aren't unrealistic or near impossible.
Accept yourself for who you are: The second key area is for changing your attitude is geared towards helping you eliminate self-criticism and the belief that you're being judged/ evaluated in the eyes of others. Remember that nobodies perfect, you need to accept yourself for who you are warts and all and then you'll naturally feel more confident around others and in new social environments.
Develop your self-confidence
Have you ever stopped to consider how much of an impact your self-confidence is having on your social anxiety?
If you're confident in yourself then you'll naturally be comfortable in social environments and around new people. Suffering from social anxiety makes developing your self-confidence more difficult but simply set yourself small manageable goals you can accomplish in order to boost your self-confidence and simply take baby steps to get started.
The key is to be mindful of your socially related anxieties and work on ways to use it to your advantage for developing confidence in yourself. If for instance you dread speaking in front audiences then perhaps you could seize the opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and speak in front of a small audience should the opportunity present itself.
Have you considered natural supplements?
It may come as a surprise to know there are some natural forms of treatment in the form of herbs and supplements that have been reported to help in treating social anxiety. These can present a great alternative for those who're reluctant to take prescription medications or are just perhaps more inclined to engage in natural healing practices.
One of the biggest benefits in these natural treatments is they have little - no side-effects and don't cause addiction in users/ consumers. If you are one of the many who prefers to deal with social anxiety more privately then a further research on natural herbs and supplements for treating social anxiety may be worth looking into.
Wrapping it up
Within this article I've outlined a few effective ways of overcoming social anxiety naturally. Practice different techniques and find what works best for you. Remember, this article isn't intended to replace the advice or opinion of a medical professional. If you feel social anxiety is affecting your day to day life then it's always wise to consult with your doctor.
