How can I reduce the amount of social anxiety I feel in public?

Social anxiety is an intense fear of being watched and judged by others. Many people may deal with this fear on a day to day basis, affecting their mental health and daily activities. Stressful life events and trauma during childhood can influence the development of social anxiety problems. Personally, I have also felt this type of fear when being in public at times, but as time has passed, I have learnt different ways to handle this fear. Some ways to reduce the amount of social anxiety can be by……

Practicing self confidence and love: One of the main things you can do as an individual is practice self love and confidence, reducing the fear of how others may view you in public. For example, reminding yourself how good of a person you are, loving yourself, not comparing yourself to others around you, and being confident in who you are are all ways to better your self esteem. It is important to not have a negative mindset towards your mental or physical health because it will contribute to the anxiety and overthinking you will have when being in public. Therefore, practicing these different things when you are alone and taking time to reflect on why you feel anxious in public can help you get a better understanding as to what solutions can benefit you moving forward!

Exercise and progressive muscle relaxation: Practicing muscle and mind relaxation can be a helpful way to reduce social anxiety. Putting your time and energy into yourself to make your mental and physical health better can reduce the overthinking and stress. For example, taking 3-4 days in your week to exercise whether it's for an hour, 10 minutes, or even getting a bit of cardio in is great because it can improve one's self-esteem and sense of well being. Furthermore, if you feel like you want to make a change in your mental and physical health, start by slowly exercising in a comfortable place to get you feeling active!

Go out with friends or others: Going outside with people you feel comfortable with can often help reduce social anxiety because you will get more used to the outdoors and public. For example, going out with a friend or family can be a good solution because you won't be focusing on what you look like 24/7, instead you will be having a good time with those around you. This can help reduce social anxiety because the more you go out and interact with others, the more you can begin to get comfortable in a public environment.

Practicing muscle and mind relaxation can be a helpful way to reduce social anxiety. Putting your time and energy into yourself to make your mental and physical health better can reduce the overthinking and stress. For example, taking 3-4 days in your week to exercise whether it's for an hour, 10 minutes, or even getting a bit of cardio in is great because it can improve one's self-esteem and sense of wellbeing. Furthermore, if you feel like you want to make a change in your mental and physical health, start by slowly exercising in a comfortable place to get you feeling active!

Author: Sahar Baloutch