how do you deal with/overcome social anxiety?

[bummed_brunette]

my social anxiety has become worse during covid, being isolated and being anxious in general seems to have made me feel incredibly overwhelmed at the prospect of leaving the house, and i even feel like keeping up relationships with friends and family a daunting task.

i can tell the withdrawal is also exacerbating depression/suicidal thoughts.

does anyone have any tips? meds? coping mechanisms? would love some help.

[Sophie_M]

Hey bummed_brunette,

Thanks for reaching out to our friendly community here tonight, we know it can be really tough to do when you're feeling so low. It sounds like these thoughts and feelings must be really overwhelming at the moment, and we are so sorry to hear how you've been impacted by this pandemic. Please know that you do not have to do this alone. Many in our community will be able to relate to these feelings and understand. Hopefully a few of them will pop by soon with words of kindness and advice.

We understand that it can be really tough to cope sometimes, especially if you struggle to reach out to family or friends. Can we ask if you currently have any mental health support to help you through this difficult time? Please know that you are always welcome to get in touch with our Beyond Blue Support Service. They are available 24/7 by phone on 1300 22 4636 or on Webchat 3pm-12am AEST on our website: www.beyondblue.org.au/getsupport  One of the friendly counsellors will be able to talk through these feelings with you, and can offer support, advice and referrals to help you through this.

You might also like to check out our Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service, which has information, advice and strategies to help you manage your wellbeing and mental health during this time. You can also call our dedicated support line, staffed by mental health professionals, which is available 24/7 on 1800 512 348.

In addition to this, our friends at Lifeline and Suicide Call Back Service are always available to you during your most difficult moments:

•  Lifeline - 13 11 14 (online chat available at: https://www.lifeline.org.au/Get-Help/Online-Services/crisis-chat)
•  Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467 (online chat available at https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/)

Please feel free to keep us updated here on your thread with what you are feeling and experiencing whenever you feel up to it - we hope that you find this to be a safe and non-judgemental space.

[golden82]

Hi Brunette,

Ditto. I have been the same since Covid started and all the lockdowns and isolation. On paper it would look like my dream to lock away as I have social anxiety too...but the reality is that it only amplified the fear and anxiety of even venturing outside. It was not due to a fear of Covid - but just the social anxiety and panic had become so much worse. I think it is like a muscle - you need to keep using it so to speak. Something that helps me and many with this is exposure therapy - or graded exposure therapy. i.e. baby steps to try get out a little more each time. Even if it is just open the front door; then step outside etc. Wherever you are at with it. It is a challenge and most days I let myself down and take the easy option of staying in bed. But the odd day I do go out - although exhausting from all the fear and panic, actually overall is better as I feel a bit 'normal' and on the way to freedom. Also finally getting something - overdue- and delayed - achieved makes me feel a bit better too.

Yes, I am with you that the staying in bed - in head - makes depression and suicide thoughts worse. It is a catch-22, but really as humans we are social beings and even just being around others - even if not actually with them - I find the energy lifts my mood, or takes my focus of my thoughts of self-hatred for that little bit of time.

I hope you can try some baby steps. There are heaps of resources around for anxiety and exposure therapy etc. All the best with it all and take care 🙂

[Jasjit]

Hi everyone!

First of all, I apologize that I am not an expert of a clinical psychologist in sharing you how to overcome social anxiety but since I have reversed my social anxiety without the expert's help - I might as well share my experience and hopefully be able to inspire someone else.

So throughout my childhood and adolescence, I was constantly thinking about what will others think of me? Will they even like me? Why don't they like me?

I had all the constant thoughts and the sight of people gave me internal vibrations. This worsened in my school and made me a mockery in front of my classmates.

But one day it hit me really hard. I could not every live like this for the rest of my life. I was scared from getting help. I never wanted to go to an expert because of the stigma within myself.

So I tried understand it by myself first. Well the answer was quite simple! I am finding love outside. But doesn't love exist inside me. If the whole universe exists within me, then why is there a need to seek it outside. This thought kept on coming back. I realised it that if I just be myself then it does not matter what others think. But practically how?

Well, I made a lifestyle change! I was eating all the junk food because I was hiding behind food for a temporary relief but then I went completely whole-foods plant-based, went to pursue my fat loss transformation, and added lots of meditational/yoga practices in my daily routine.

Now? I am flourishing. I love myself. I look forward to every day. I have no social anxiety! I can now even speak in front of thousands of people because now I am ME.

But anyway, thanks for listening to me. Hopefully, this was be helpful.