Episode 11: Social Anxiety & you!

In this episode I talk about social anxiety, what causes it, how it affects you physiologically but also what YOU can do to change things.  Many of us now feel anxious going back out into social situations after being shut in door for months on end.  Our social skills have not really been needed and if you haven't really had the opportunity to practice social skills at all it can leave you feeling vulnerable and frustrated but also like there is something wrong with you.  Remember YOU are the thinker of you thoughts and YOU can think different thoughts when ever you like! You also don't know what other people are thinking....if you are telling yourself other people are thinking x,y,z about you - NEWSFLASH!  YOU aren't that important to them...and other people don't all think like you.  Let go of the focus on self and start to LISTEN to other people is social situations ask THEM questions and then you can make appropriate comments or simple listen without planning in your own head what you will say next... Socialising is a skill that needs practice, give yourself chance to do than in smaller groups before charging straight into big ones!  Being in larger crowds in NOT comfortable for many of us - me included!  So pick your times to travel if you can when things are quieter on buses , trains ot tubes, go shopping really early or late to avoid peak times and crowds and take the time to JUST BREATHE and give yourself chance to come down in the calmer parasympathetic 'rest and digest' part of your nervous system, YOU NEVER KNOW before long with practice and repetition you may find you look forward to those social occasions more than you thought you ever would!    If you need help with anxiety of stress please do connect with me and lets have a chat about I may be able to help you.  Vicky xx Connect with me here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwood/ Email: [email protected] Website: https://vickymidwood.com/ (BOOK A 15 CHAT VIA THE HOME PAGE)