Social Anxiety and Why We Choose to Stay Quiet?

Social anxiety is becoming an increasingly common problem among people these days. A number of people experience anxiety while interacting with others. Social anxiety arises from the fear of being misjudged by others; as a result, people suffering from anxiety try to avoid social gatherings and interactions to a great extent. However, in the corporate world, social anxiety is a huge pushback and often restricts the career growth of such individuals. Therefore, it is important for you to know how to deal with social anxiety and eventually try to overcome it.

In this segment, our subject-matter expert Rakesh will share with you some tips and techniques to help you tackle social anxiety. So, let’s get started.

Great! This video was really helpful. Let’s quickly list down the key takeaways from the video: 

• In interpersonal communication, people often deal with a kind of social phobia known as social anxiety. 
• Social anxiety is the fear of interacting with people due to the dread of being misjudged by them.
• Broadly, you can overcome social anxiety by regular practise and it is not very difficult to achieve. It is connected to self-esteem and self-confidence.
• However, some people may have had unpleasant experiences because of social anxiety. In such cases, they must visit a professional counsellor.
• Largely, people suffer from social anxiety because of three main reasons:
  • They set the bar for self-expectation immensely high.
  • They doubt their worth and, hence, often question their abilities.
  • The desire to be popular often triggers social anxiety in people.
• A common sign of social anxiety is that you feel shy and uncomfortable in expressing your thoughts before other people
• Social anxiety can be resolved if the two main points mentioned below are taken care of: 
  • Boost your self-confidence and self-esteem by making efforts to feel comfortable with public interaction
  • Work on enhancing your strengths
• Learn to tackle the angst and concern of being made mocked
• When talking to people, use logic and substance in the conversation. This will make people appreciate you, which will boost your confidence
• It is extremely important to break out of your comfort zone. You can take help from a professional counsellor to understand how you can do this
• Often, try to put yourself in situations that make you feel anxious. This will effectively help you to move out of your comfort zone
• In a corporate setting, try to interact with different people during your tea or lunch breaks. This will not only help you overcome your social anxiety but also facilitate collaboration with people

These tips will help you to overcome social anxiety and fear of being in uncomfortable situations