Do you experience Social Anxiety when asked to do speak in front of people? Feelings of apprehension and nervousness are natural when you’re at the center of attention. Social phobia sufferers are different in that they experience anxiety symptoms and have intense fears of being embarrassed in public.
This is actually quite a common disorder which falls under the umbrella of anxiety disorders. Social anxiety disorder is very treatable and the success rate of therapy is high. Other options such as medication has limited effectiveness at treating social phobia although it can relieve symptoms.
In addition to treatments, sufferers can apply self help techniques to help them overcome Social anxiety. Daily practice of visualization and breathing techniques can do wonders for sufferers. When you vividly imagine something you’re nervous system reacts in the same way as when you’re actually doing it.
Our thoughts have a lot of control over our emotions. Feelings of fear and anxiety symptoms can manifest from merely thinking about one’s phobia. The subconscious mind learns both positive and negative emotions and behaviors in the same way. Like riding a bike the brain makes stronger connections each time until it becomes a subconscious ability.
Top athletes train their mind as much as they train their bodies. Pro golfers practice their swing in their minds before actually taking a swing. Each time they create stronger connections and perfect their ability. Your behaviors can be changed using the imagination. Social anxiety, shyness and confidence problems; you can implement visualization techniques to improve any aspect of your life.
Let’s imagine that you have to give a presentation in a few days. On finding out you become very anxious and you start imagining how embarrassed you will be on the day. You start to get anxiety symptoms like a tight chest, shaking and a racing heart. At the meeting you feel totally terrified, embarrassed and a complete wreck.
People with social anxiety self sabotage by thinking negative thoughts and imagine the worse that is going to happen. Using techniques such as positive visualizations and affirmations can help recondition old habits and behaviors. With regular practice fears and phobias can be overcome.
You can apply visualization techniques anytime. Sit down in a comfortable place with your eyes closed. Let your muscles relax and inhale deeply gradually filling your lungs with air. In your mind imagine what it would be like to be full of confidence and uninhibited in any social setting. Visualize in detail the way you would speak and walk if you had this confidence. Think about how your presence would be and how others would see you.
See your life without anxiety symptoms and the new you brimming with confidence. Reframe negative thoughts in your head so that they help you in a positive way. Praise yourself and make yourself feel good. Imagine yourself standing in front of everyone at your next meeting and giving an amazing presentation. See yourself in complete control and everybody giving you praise at the end.
Focus on this image for 10 minutes and finally open your eyes. That felt great right? If you gave a presentation now would you feel as scared or embarrassed as usual? Practicing this everyday can do immense good. Think of confidence as a guise that you can slip on until you become that person. What’s more, even when you feel anything but confident inside, project it on the outside. The more you practice the more you will improve.
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