Social Anxiety

Say it with me…

Social anxiety is not a terminal condition

Nobody is born with 10/10 social skills. Everybody has social anxiety in the beginning and eventually has to learn how to deal with it.

I actively suffer from social anxiety sometimes. In fact, up until ~2018, I was not good at being social. Having a small, tight-knit group of friends was the jam in my sandwich, and I figured I would never really understand how people liked to enjoy the peanut butter of being a social person. Social activity felt like a task I had to do instead of actively wanting to do it.

I was an introvert. I still am. I have a social battery and sometimes it’s worse than an iPhone on a hot day.

But that’s okay. You don’t need to be an extrovert to thrive in social environments. All you need is to…

 

Understand Social Cues

Once you understand social cues and how to read them, you’re 80% there. The rest is 10% pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, and 10% yapping.

Yap away, no shame. If you’re yapping too much, social cues will tell you so. If you’re not yapping enough, use that 10% to push yourself.

If you say something stupid, accept that you said something stupid and move on. Everyone says stupid things. Life goes on. Look at Trump, that man only says stupid things, and half of America loves him.

That’s pretty much it. Show up and yap. Do it enough times and…

 

It Gets Easier

The first couple of times in a social setting with strangers might feel like you’re running up a steep hill. Feeling like you’ll never get to the top; so what’s the point in stressing yourself out?

This is a normal feeling. Everyone goes through this, some when they’re five (and don’t remember it) and some when they’re 32 (and write fat books about it).

After you do it a couple of times and realize that you didn’t die but instead made a friend or two—you’ll feel good. Recognize this and let yourself feel good.

The third time, you won’t come prepared to die. You’ll come with an agenda: making friends and yapping about stupid things.

 

from Bojack Horseman on Netflix

This Will Help

• Why we have social anxiety

• Reading social cues

• The ultimate guide to being a social butterfly

Join us at social events, we’re a silly bunch who like doing social things.