Dealing with Social Anxiety – My Ely Standard Column

My latest regular column in the Ely Standard is about dealing with social anxiety.

If you struggle with social anxiety, then the article has a few suggestions of positive actions you can take. You might also want to read my recent post about combating social anxiety this festive season.

Like all anxiety, social anxiety thrives in the unhelpful patterns of thoughts and feelings that go on inside of your mind. You worry before events about what if you mess up somehow and look stupid. The closer social situations get, the more you probably think about how you can avoid it. If you do go then that inner critic overthinks everything. You are constantly scanning for signs from others to check if they are judging you. You can feel hot, tense and edgy. You can get so focused on your own inner thoughts about what you are doing or saying that you struggle to engage in what is going on around you.

Dealing with social anxiety was a major challenge for me at one time. I would worry incessantly about what others thought of me and what I said or did. Every interaction felt like a potential opportunity to mess up or be judged. Before events you feel anxious and full of dread about what might go wrong. At events you feel anxious about what is happening, or could happen. Afterwards, you dwell on everything and worry about what you said and did. It’s exhausting.

You worry about saying or doing something wrong in case others think badly about you. You may also worry about the things you didn’t do but worry you should have done. There are worries about freezing and having nothing to say, or about saying or doing something stupid. You overthink and overthink about it all. And all those thoughts, feelings and behaviours just get in the way of you relaxing and being yourself.

The festive season, in particular, comes with pressure to go to, and be seen to enjoy, social events. If you are dealing with social anxiety, then you may just look forward to the relief when it is all over and done with.

However, the good news is that social anxiety is something that you can overcome. You can start feeling better and better in yourself when it comes to social events, occasions and interactions.

Dealing with Social Anxiety

If this all sounds familiar, then do take a look at my article about dealing with social anxiety in the Ely Standard. You can find it here:  Ely hypnotherapist Dan Regan on dealing with social anxiety

There is also more about combating social anxiety this coming festive season (although the strategies can work anytime) in this article: Combating Social Anxiety This Festive Season

As an Ely Standard columnist I always enjoy sharing information about anxiety and mental health.

If you’d like to read my previous articles for the newspaper, do have a look here:

Award Winner Celebrates 15 years as an Anxiety Therapist in Ely

How to stop anxiety and worst-case scenarios taking over

Ely hypnotherapist on anxious thoughts and feelings

Music For Anxiety and Stress: My Latest Ely Standard Article

Ely Standard Columnist – Hypnotherapist Dan Regan

I know, from my own experience and from my clients, how debilitating, frustrating and limiting social anxiety can feel. Everyone else seems to enjoy themselves while you go through a hidden sort of inner hell and ordeal. Let’s change that. Let’s work together and help you to change those unwanted old patterns of thinking and feeling that keep you anxious again and again.

If you are dealing with social anxiety in Ely, Newmarket, or just about anywhere in the world, do get in touch and ask to book your free initial consultation. It’s your first step towards feeling comfortable in yourself when around others and in enjoying your life more and more.

To your health and happiness,

Dan Regan

Social Anxiety Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

Find out more about anxiety hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket: Anxiety Hypnotherapy

Could you use some help with your anxiety? Struggling with anxiety, stress, worry and fear and need some help? Find out how I can help with a Complimentary Anxiety Hypnotherapy Strategy Session. Learn more here: Appointments

Find out what hundreds of other people have said after their anxiety hypnotherapy sessions with Dan: Hypnotherapy Testimonials

And check out these popular and powerful hypnosis downloads that can start helping you right away with anxiety, confidence and more: Hypnosis Downloads