Almost everyone feels shy when they are in the presence of strangers. Such shyness usually goes away over time. But if the awkwardness gets too much to handle and is affecting your life, you might have social anxiety disorder.
Who?
People who are socially anxious are constantly self-conscious in social situations and are extremely worried about being watched and judged by others. As a result, they withdraw from social interactions.1
Social anxiety and Christmas
Social anxiety disorder is hard to deal with at any time of the year, but Christmas time is exceptionally challenging. The following are tips to overcome social anxiety during this festive season.
Say yes
While the first thought that comes to mind when you receive a party invitation tends to be “Thanks, but no thanks,” accept the invitation nevertheless. The more social events you take part in, the less awkward you’d likely feel.2
Downtime before party
Set aside a couple of hours before the party for yourself to relax. Choose ahead something appropriate and comfortable to wear.2
Plan what to talk about
Have some conversation topics up your sleeve.3
Set achievable goal
Aim to speak to three new people for at least five minutes each. Ease yourself into the social scene and feel good about it.2
If you are aged between 11 and 35, and are experiencing social phobia or any form of distress, counselors at “Open Up” are here to provide support 24/7 through major social media platforms. Click here for details.4
Sources
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