How To Cope With Social Anxiety
We live in a society made up of a myriad of people — teachers, lawyers, bankers, corporate rats and blue-collar workers. There is no doubt that on a day to day basis, we need to interact with at least some of these people. Yet, this is tough for those of us with social anxiety like myself.
Being an introvert and a highly sensitive person, any kind of social interaction is enough to raise my heartbeat. Even with the cashier at a convenience store. Yet, the best way to overcome this anxiety is to put myself out there and trust that I will be able to deal with it. With technology putting me in touch with long-time friends, the world is ever more connected than before. For individuals with a mental health diagnosis like myself, it is important to have a good support network.
Case in point: Counsellors and social service organizations. It is easy to reach out to them and tap on existing resources, but it is difficult to maintain that relationship and actively work on recovery. I can count the number of times I’ve reached out to a crisis hotline on one hand and even as I talk to the person at the other end of the line, I cannot help but reflect on the courage it took me to dial the number.
So even as my life continues to take on imminent new possibilities and the friendships that I have nurtured remain a steadfast ‘rock’ in helping me recover, I will still be anxious about social interactions in time to come. Til that day ends, I hope my readers will still be a supportive bunch.
