originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:55 PM

sounds great @redhead

If you can handle London i'm sure you'll be fine!

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:53 PM

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:54 PM

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:58 PM

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:53 PM

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:53 PM

What are three things you feel like you could do over the next week to reduce your social anxiety?

Well I have a psychologist appt tomorrow, but that is unrealistic for most people. So just challenging my anxiety and asking it what has got it worrying so much. Usually it is something so silly, that I just tell my anxiety to stop being irrational and just go on about my day. 

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:55 PM

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:42 PM

Sometimes self-help strategies aren’t enough to ease our social anxiety symptoms. Where would you go for extra support to cope with social anxiety?

I went to headspace when things weren't going too well for me. My GP and then psychologist helped me out so much! They gave me heaps of tips on overcoming things. Of course it is a work in progress, but things get easier.

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:40 PM

---

@benjamin_ wrote:

Sometimes self-help strategies aren’t enough to ease our social anxiety symptoms. Where would you go for extra support to cope with social anxiety?

---

Yea I wanted to say that going by what everyone is saying here feeling uncomfortable in social situations is something that most people deal with at some point, and it’s totally normal. But for some people, however, social contact can be a massive source of anxiety to the point where it's negatively affecting their day-to-day life. ANd that's when it might be time to reach out for extra support, if it's affecting your day-to-day life, your study, work or relationships etc....

More info: http://au.reachout.com/social-anxiety-disorder

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:38 PM

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:40 PM

I agree @FootyFan26

Some of the best help and support i've received has been from my friends and family.

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:42 PM

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:45 PM

Oh I know this is a bit off topic but while yr all here I wanted to remind you we are having a special session tomorrow night in conjunction with the ABC2's Australians on Drugs program.... The idea is to watch the show and chat at the same time, then a bit of a discussion afterwards...

Hope to see some of you there! It's all happening at reachout.com/ausdrugs

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:48 PM

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:50 PM

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:51 PM

Here is Ben's great summary of tonight's discussion...

• Some of the types of social settings we feel anxious that we’d like to feel more comfortable in include meeting new people, going to parties, small talk, when attention is focused on us and when people sing happy birthday to us!
• When we’re in public and feel anxious, sometimes we have thoughts like “I will say something weird and people will think I’m weird and not want to talk to me anymore”. We might worry what others will think, that we might offend them, or that they might misinterpret what we were trying to communicate. Often these thoughts are unrealistic and unhelpful and need to be challenged!
• To calm down after being anxious in social situations, some ideas include reminding yourself of other situations that you felt anxious in where everything worked out okay, walking away from the crowd and taking a breather, playing music and exercising.
• Some lifestyle changes that can help reduce anxiety include reducing caffeine, smoking, improving your diet, exercising, meditating.
• Some nerve-wracking social events we avoid include parties, going to new places, meeting family of friends, doing oral presentations.
• Sometimes we can feel more anxious with specific groups of people. This might include people who are highly extraverted (if you’re more introverted), being at events where you only know one person.
• Some skills that are important in social situations include assertiveness and communication skills, being able to speak up and stand up for yourself and others, not letting yourself be walked over, listening, CBT – all of which can both be developed through social skills classes, with a psychologist or counselor, or through practice.
• Some simple ways to start building social skills on a daily basis may include using opportunities at work to gain experience interacting with people, accompanying an outgoing friend to a party, practicing online, break nerve-wracking things down into smaller tasks.
• If the self-help strategies aren’t enough to handle your social anxiety, you could try having a chat to family, friends, or you can always see your local GP to get a referral to see a psychologist or give headspace a call!

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:31 PM

@redhead I like your point about trying new things among friends.

I've done stuff like accompany a friend who's much more outgoing than me to a party and found that it really brought me out of my shell. 

originally posted on 27-07-2015 9:32 PM

Becoming more comfortable in social situations that make us highly anxious can take time, so sometimes it can be best to start small rather than trying to face our biggest fears right away! What are some simple ways to start practicing social skills on a daily basis?

Doing one thing that makes you anxious, a day! Well that is what I do.

If it is so nerve-wracking that you just can't even get ready, just get ready. Break everything down into smaller parts. It seems weird, but I have been so wreaked by my anxiety that I just couldn't get out of bed. The point is to get out of bed anyway, even if it is just to make some tea or to have a shower. Then the next step might be getting ready. Once comfortable with that, leaving the house. When that isn't such a big killer, catching buses, then walking past the place you need to go.

All in all, sometimes you just need a moment of courage. <--- That is how I ended up seeking help.

Making calls is sort of the same. Enter in the numbers. Sit there for a while, and then just press call. If you freak out too much after pressing call, just hang up. I know when I call, I get all like 'Please don't answer, please don't answer!' It actually happened once, and boy I wished they had answered.