
2 minute read
Coping With Social Anxiety
While overcoming social anxiety can be a challenging journey, there are some coping methods that we can use to help us along the way of the healing process.
Dealing with social anxiety can help us understand ourselves better by boosting our self-esteem. It also has the potential to motivate us to regain a certain sense of control over our lives and encourage us to seek a healthier social life!
Advertisement
So, without further ado, here are a few methods to try that have proved effective in helping people cope better with social anxiety:
Start a diary and try to write down your feelings throughout the day to help you reflect on the situations you were in.
Try meditation, physical activities, or breathing exercises as relaxation techniques to reduce your stress level.
Break social situations into smaller parts. Try to get familiar with each phase of these situations, and make an action plan to reduce your feelings of anxiety.
Listen to people, and try not to read too much into their thoughts and opinions. During honest conversations, we might quickly realize that the people we’ve been avoiding are friendly and fun to talk to.
Social Health Campaign


Loneliness: Social Anxiety
Handling feelings of anxiety can get easier when we’re surrounded by the proper support systems. Reach out for emotional support from your loved ones and try to to discuss your experience with a licensed professional who can help you understand all your options and offer personalized effective treatment paths. You're not alone!
For more information on loneliness, the relationship between loneliness and social media, and how the COVID-19 pandemic and loneliness are connected, check out our other brochures!


References
Alpert P. T. (2017). Self-perception of social isolation and loneliness in older adults.
Home Health Care Management & Practice. 29(4), 249-252. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1084822317728265?journalCode
Social Health Campaign
Loneliness: Social Anxiety
Gottschalk, M. G., & Domschke, K. (2017). Genetics of generalized anxiety disorder and related traits. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 19(2), 159–168. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/kdomschke.
American Psychological Association (n.d.). Introversion. APA Dictionary of Psychology https://dictionary.apa.org/introversion.
=hhcb. Barbour, T., Holmes, A. J., Farabaugh, A. H., DeCross, N. S., et. al. (2019).
Elevated amygdala activity in young adults with familial risks for depression: a potential marker of low resilience. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimage 5(2), 194-202. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2451902219302745.
Better Health Channel. (2014). Self esteem. Department of Health. Victoria State Government. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/self-esteem.

Chand, S. P., & Marwaha, R. (2022). Anxiety. StatPearls Publishing. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29262212/.
Cleveland Clinic (2022) Social Anxiety Disorder. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22709-social-anxiety.
Cowen, P. J., & Browning, M. (2015). What has serotonin to do with depression? World psychiatry: official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 14(2), 158–160. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20229.
Fink, M., Akimova, E., Spindelegger, C., Hahn, A., Lanzenberger, R., & Kasper, S. (2009). Social anxiety disorder: epidemiology, biology and treatment. Psychiatria Danubina, 21(4), 533–542. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19935490/.
Ghayas, Saba. (2018). Relationship between self-esteem and social anxiety: Role of social connectedness as a mediator. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324771430_Relationship_between_Self-Esteem_and_Social_Anxiet y_Role_of_Social_Connectedness_as_a_Mediat or
Gill, C., Watson, L., Williams, C., & Chan, S. W. Y. (2018). Social anxiety and self-compassion in adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 69, 163–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.10.004.
Harvard Health. (2022). The power of self-compassion. Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/the-power-of-self-compassion.
Hjorth, O.R., Frick, A., Gingnell, M. et al. (2021). Expression and co-expression of serotonin and dopamine transporters in social anxiety disorder: a multitracer positron emission tomography study. Mol Psychiatry 26,
Hjorth, O.R., Frick, A., Gingnell, M. et al. (2021). Expression and co-expression of serotonin and dopamine transporters in social anxiety disorder: a multitracer positron emission tomography study. Mol Psychiatry 26,
Hunington, C. (n.d.). Self-perception: Definition, theory & questions. Berkeley Well-Being Institute. https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/self-perception.html.
Mayo Clinic. (2018). Anxiety Disorders. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961.
Mayo Clinic. (2021). Social anxiety disorder (social phobia). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/social-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353561.
Murad, O. S. (2020). Social anxiety in relation to self-esteem among university students in Jordan. International Education Studies. 13(2), 96-103. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v13n2p96.
National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK). (2013). Social anxiety disorder: recognition, assessment and treatment. In (Eds). British Psychological Society, NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 159. Leicester: British Psychological Society. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK327674/.
National Health Service. (2020). Social anxiety phobia). NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/social-anxiety/.
National Institute of Mental Health (n.d.). Anxiety Disorders. NIH. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders.