An ever-increasing issue for millennials is anxiety and depression. With 15 million American adults who currently have social anxiety (as estimated by The Anxiety and Depression Association of America), there are masses of people experiencing uncomfortable situations daily as a result of their mental health. Social anxiety can affect all areas of your life, and if it isn’t solved, sadly, it can prevent you from ever really knowing or reaching your full potential. With a lack of confidence to speak up when people with social anxiety really want to, a lot of people are unheard, are taking a back seat in situations or are finding it extremely difficult to make positive connections with other people, particularly in social gatherings.

Anxiety Symptoms 

Some of the symptoms you might experience when around other people are; blushing uncontrollably, stammering, dry mouth, sweaty palms, a stunt in thoughts and a loss of confidence to speak at all.

For those who don’t want their symptoms to rule the roost in their lives, it’s essential to take action so that you can take control of your anxiety and start living your life to its fullest.

Breathe

When social anxiety occurs, it begins to build momentum if you don’t make an effort to stop it in its tracks. One of the things you can practice doing on the spot is concentrating on your breathing. Sit up straight and take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth, counting to 4 on each breath. This will help to gradually bring down your heartbeat and slow your anxiety symptoms down.

Rethinking Your Anxiety

When you feel your anxiety beginning to take hold of you in a social setting, rather than worrying that your symptoms are a sign of discomfort and fear, why not relabel this feeling as something else, such as excitement. Relabelling your social anxiety in this way will encourage you to relate your symptoms with positive feelings. For some people who practice this way of coping, they begin to see their emotions and reactions to social settings in a different light, making it palatable and easier to process.

Focus Shift

As the cold sweats and racing thoughts takeover, you begin to dwell on what is happening within. Such as, how you are feeling and worrying that it will get worse. Instead, when you are in social settings, try and shift your focus outwards to what is happening around you. Whether focusing on ordering a round of drinks, taking a short break away with your blue city diesel or thinking about how your friend must be feeling, as she’s just lost her pet.

These are just a few of the ways you can battle social anxiety and not let it get the best of you. As with anything, it takes perseverance and practice to master using the remedies that work for you. Above all, be open to experimenting with different solutions, from tweaking your thought processes to using natural remedies to calm your nerves.