subject: How To Overcome Social Anxiety [print this page] Being nervous in a crowded room is one thing, but being nervous when in front of a small group of people is another. Social anxiety can turn normally enjoyable outings into nightmares; the constant fare of being watched or scrutinized can almost drive one insane. But it does not have to be this way, there are many methods recommended by psychologists to help persons overcome their social anxiety. One of the most effective methods is games; simple mind games that you can play to take your mind away from seeing everyone as a critic, because in reality most people are ready to accept you as you are.
The first game Im going to talk about is one built by students of McGill University, it is called EyeSpy. The whole point of EyeSpy is to help you see the smiling/approving faces instead of the disapproving ones. This may sound simple, but the biggest cause of social anxiety is the fear of not being accepted. Even if you do not consciously do it, your brain interprets smiling faces as accepting and friendly, so you will generally feel more comfortable around somebody who likes to smile as opposed to persons who have a normal or angry face.
The second game is also one developed by students of McGill University; this game is used to build self esteem. Low self-esteem is also a leading factor in social anxiety, feeling that you are not as important as the person next to you can make you nervous. If you can build your self esteem, you will feel more comfortable around other people. Although this may seem childish, it is one of the most important steps in overcoming social anxiety.
The last game I am going to talk about is one that you do not need a computer to play. This is a on-the-spot mind game that you can use to combat nervousness when in front of large groups of people. Image everyone around you wearing nothing but their underwear, yes I am sure you have heard this before but it really does work. Most people would be humiliated if caught in public with only their underwear covering them. Image everyone around you is humiliated and you are the only one with nothing to be ashamed of. As a public speaker I can tell you from first-hand experience that this mind game works.
Social anxiety is never a good thing; it can affect very important aspects of your life, so taking the time to overcome it is totally worth it. Changing the way you think about yourself and the way you perceive other takes time; it will not happen overnight. But, if you follow these steps I guarantee that you will see improvement in your daily interactions with other people; you will not be as anxious and you will find yourself more free spirited and outgoing than ever before. Games are often better than taking a therapy to cure the anxiety, primarily because they are fun and can be so involving that one puts aside any worries.
