| Everybody experiences shyness in certain situations at | | | | #4 - FIGURE OUT YOUR SYMPTOMS: Take notes |
| one time or another. Whether it's on a first date, or | | | | and analyze how and under what circumstances your |
| taking the podium at conference or even going to a | | | | social anxiety disorder manifests itself. |
| party with new people, it's natural to feel slightly | | | | #5 - ASSESS YOUR SAD TRIGGERS: After you've |
| anxious in unknown situations. However, there is a | | | | figured out your symptoms, look for what triggers |
| disorder that many people confuse with simple | | | | them in social and professional situations. Notice what |
| shyness, that actually is far more intense and | | | | makes you shy. |
| problematic than being shy. | | | | #6 - PROCESS YOUR DISORDER: Come to grips |
| Shyness usually only manifests in a particular type of | | | | with the idea that you have this disorder, and make a |
| situation, allowing you to be quite functional in everyday | | | | concerted effort that you will overcome it. |
| life. Social anxiety disorder, on the other hand, is quite | | | | #7 - GET BACK OUT THERE: Look for little ways to |
| different, where if left untreated will cause you to | | | | forge small social interactions that you can use to build |
| destroy every personal connection in your life. Here | | | | your therapy on. Idle chit chat and small talk is a great |
| are 10 easy ways to overcome social anxiety | | | | way to alleviate a lot of the stress and anxiety you |
| disorder. | | | | are feeling. Build effective social skills and your anxiety |
| #1 - FIND A GOOD THERAPIST: This is usually the | | | | disorder will almost vanish! |
| first step to serious treatment when you recognize | | | | #8 - WORK ON IT ALL THE TIME: For your |
| that you may have social anxiety disorder. A good | | | | treatment to be effective, you have to be vigilant. |
| therapist will help you get to the root of your problem | | | | Work on it all the time to avoid the temptation to |
| and proscribe exercises to do to overcome it. Try to | | | | recede back into your mental shell. |
| get a referral from someone you trust. | | | | #9 - WORK TO OVERCOME YOUR NATURAL |
| #2 - JOIN A SUPPORT GROUP: A support group is a | | | | RESPONSE: The most difficult part of the process of |
| great way to interact with people whom you know will | | | | overcoming social anxiety disorder (and shyness) is |
| be understanding of your problem and supportive in | | | | retraining your mental habits and going against your |
| your efforts to seek treatment. | | | | natural inclinations. With effort and practice, you can do |
| #3 - READ AS MUCH AS YOU CAN: Get all of the | | | | this. |
| self-help books that you can and look for ways to help | | | | #10 - EMPLOY THE POSITIVE: One of the most |
| change your thought processes and get you out of | | | | common traits of social anxiety disorder is the |
| your shell. Knowing the most you can about social | | | | succumbing to negative thoughts and dwelling on them. |
| anxiety disorder will help you overcome it more | | | | But focus on the positive things you can do and use |
| effectively. | | | | these as a basis to bolster your confidence. |