Coping when you have got social anxiety can be a big nightmare. There are more days than I can remember that I could not manage while I had it. I can remember plenty of nights where I would cry my lonely self to sleep. Days in which I would go out into a public place and not be confident enough to build a connection with someone and go back home in profound despair.
Coping with social anxiety is all about having goals. Numerous therapists and advice givers choose to tell you that coping is something you do long term. Personally I believe that is a method that is doomed to failure becuase you are trying to fight against your own mind rather than figure out what is generating the fear and repair that.
I think it is worth choosing a couple of tactics for those situations when coping with social anxiety is just much too tough, they will stop you from doing something stupid and allow you to go on with your day, just as long as you remember these are only meant to be made use of for a matter of hours until you can get yourself into a better emotional position… they are not for long term usage.
1. Hypnosis. Hypnosis has many methods for inducing feelings of deep relaxation. I used to use some and it helped. However I have yet to come across a approach of hypnosis that can tackle the basic emotions that produce social anxiety though I have come across quite a few people who offer it.
2. Deep Breathing. Deep breathing is a good one for when you are right in the moment and you’re about to experience a n anxiety attack. It might bring you back down if performed in the correct way, you will also do no harm to yourself with correct breathing. Find some methods and practice them somewhere comfortable.
3. Self Anchoring. Anchoring is a very highly effective process of inducing emotional states. It is worth obtaining a proper guide, personally I have found no better approach than that available at essential-skills.com. When you utilize self anchors you set up a trigger for a comfortable emotion, for example pressing your right thumb to index finger, your mind and body then follow into that state and it enables you to escape the anxiety for a short time.
These are just a few of the methods I have used with success. Just remember that if you want results in overcoming social anxiety you would have more than short term coping methods.
For more advice on social anxiety treatment check out: Coping with Social Anxiety
