Have you ever felt anxious in social situations? Maybe you become extremely insecure or aware of your perceived shortcomings and have a hard time relaxing or communicating with other people. While it’s normal to sometimes feel a heightened sense of nervousness (especially around peers), social anxiety can be debilitating and cause people to avoid any sort of gathering, party, or community event. It’s exhausting and discouraging, but it doesn’t have to keep you down forever! Here are some strategies to cope with and manage social anxiety:

• Challenge Negative Thoughts
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  Too often, we’re not fully aware of the kinds of messages running through our minds. For example, you may be replaying an internal script that sounds something like, “I’m so fat, and everyone here thinks I look awful in these jeans.” Painful thoughts like these are not easy to overcome, but if you discover that you’re telling yourself self-defeating messages, think about ways to challenge them. Maybe you can say to yourself, “I am struggling with body confidence in some ways, but I can still enjoy my time here. My jean size does not define me, and I’m here to reconnect with some old friends.”
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• Cultivate Gratitude
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  Gratitude can be an excellent antidote to feelings of anxiety and give you a real happiness boost. Sometimes when life gets particularly tough, it can be hard to see through the gloom, but even in the worst of times there are things to be grateful for. If you find yourself struggling with this, it can be helpful to use a journal to write down the things that you’re grateful for and appreciate. [pullquote] Painful thoughts are not easy to overcome, but if you discover that you’re telling yourself self-defeating messages, think about ways to challenge them.[/pullquote]
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• Practice Self-Care
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  Self-care is a hot topic in the psychology world. In essence, it means taking the time and energy to do those things that benefit your mind, body, and soul. We all know the importance of exercise, getting enough sleep, and eating nutritious foods, but how well do we actually put this knowledge into practice? Self-care is not always easy, as there are so many things clamoring for our time and attention, but making it a priority can increase our confidence and energy, which in turn can help us be our best selves and decrease any social anxiety we experience.
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Empowering Families By Strengthening Girls & Women
At Warrenton Women’s Counseling Center, we work with girls of all ages (teenagers, adult women, mothers, and daughters). Our work is done face-to-face, online, or via phone. We would love to hear from you.
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