Want To Feel Less Social Anxiety? 4 Factors That Contribute To Reducing Social Anxiety
December Is A Particularly Social Time Of Year
As I write this blog many of us may find ourselves in a particularly social time of year. After all, there are many December holidays across cultures and religions celebrated this month. Often this can mean that there’s an expectation, or even a requirement, to spend more time then usual with other people.
This time of year can be particularly hard anyway for varying reasons. And maybe even harder if you find social situations particularly tricky. I am hoping this blog will help you feel less alone and provide you with some ideas of what might help.
What Is Social Anxiety?
Experiencing Social Anxiety can include feeling distress and anxiety in everyday social situations. We may fear being scrutinised by others which can have the knock-on effect of feeling negatively judged and/ or feeling embarrassed.
Will My Social Anxiety Last Forever?
Social anxiety does not have to be a lifelong, unchanging experience. Many people find that with time and the right support, their experience of Social Anxiety lessens or becomes more manageable. It's important to understand that all of our experiences are unique, however there are several factors that can contribute to reducing Social Anxiety:
Support Networks: Building a support network can offer encouragement and help you with the way that you feel about yourself. How you feel about yourself can be a contributor to social anxiety.
Self-Help Techniques: Learning and regularly practicing relaxation techniques and mindfulness can help you cope better with anxiety-provoking situations.
Gradual Exposure: Gradually exposing yourself to social situations that cause anxiety can help you build up trust in yourself to manage anxiety-provoking situations. Take your time, go at your own pace and know that you don’t need to go from skipping most events to going to everything immediately. Small steps and gradual progress can mean more lasting personal change.
Personal Growth: As you learn more about yourself, and come to understand how Social Anxiety operates for you personally, you can actively work on managing and reducing the impact of Social Anxiety in your life.
While Social Anxiety may not completely disappear for everyone, many people find that they can significantly reduce its impact on their lives with the right support.
How Can Group Therapy Help with Social Anxiety?
Group therapy can be highly effective in reducing Social Anxiety by providing a supportive environment that fosters growth and learning. Here are 4 specific ways Group Therapy can help:
Normalisation of Experiences: Group therapy helps us realise we are not alone in our struggles. Hearing others share similar experiences can reduce feelings of isolation and reassure us that our anxieties are not ours alone.
Social Support and Belongingness: Being part of a group provides a sense of belonging and support. Feeling accepted by peers can significantly boost self-esteem and decrease the fear of rejection or judgment. Fear of rejection or judgement can be a big part of Social Anxiety therefore when this reduces our Social Anxiety reduces.
Opportunities for Social Interaction: Group therapy offers a controlled setting to practice social skills in a safe and supportive environment. Interacting with others in the group can help you gradually become more comfortable in social situations.
Increased Self-Awareness: Group discussions allow you to explore your experiences of Social Anxiety in a supportive setting. This can lead to increased understanding of yourself and how your experience of Social Anxiety operates. This understanding can lead to you feeling less afraid of the Social Anxiety and more able to manage this if/ when it occurs. As our trust in ourselves to manage our experiences grows the impact of Social Anxiety reduces. You can experience more in control alongside an overall reduction in the amount of Social Anxiety you feel.