We all need somebody

Human beings have evolved to be social creatures, so why is it that for some of us socialising can bring up some of our deepest insecurities? 

Our society has an ever increasing focus on perfection and we are comparing ourselves to others more than ever. Social anxiety is the fear of being judged, criticised or rejected in a social situation. Many people may worry about appearing visibly anxious and this can compound and exaggerate their symptoms. As a result, they often avoid social or performance situations and if this isn’t possible they may have strong physical reactions such as an increased heart rate, nausea and sweating. People can often feel powerless against their anxiety and like the anxiety has taken control of them. 

Anxiety is almost always about imagining the future going wrong. The pressure to get things right can be very overwhelming and simply making a point of taking chances and allowing ourselves to be imperfect can be a great relief. Another aspect of reducing anxiety is learning to be curious about the process of the anxiety, whilst being creative with techniques proven to reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety. Working on small, achievable steps and building on those successes can help you to take back control.