How to Loosen Up in Social Situations
Are you constantly worried about what other people think of you? Do you get anxious when you need to be involved in large social situations? When you suffer from social anxiety, you may spend time more focused on what’s going on inside your head than what’s going on right around you. As experts in anxiety and trauma counseling in Orlando, we offer ways to overcome these triggers and loosen up to meet new friends and colleagues. These are a few tips to help you loosen up in social situations that make you nervous.
Focus on Things You Can Control
When you suffer from anxiety, you may constantly worry about what other people think. By focusing instead on the things you can control, you can lessen your concerns about other people. We cannot control the statements and actions of others, but we can control the way that we react. Every one of us chooses how we can react to situations, and it is not healthy to spend time feeling tense or stressed about things we cannot control.
Roll with the Punches
Avoid letting people’s habits or statements make you feel anxious or tense. Instead, try to roll with the punches of the situation by staying flexible and seeing where the social situation takes you. Ask yourself if what is bothering you right now, will it still be bothering you tomorrow? When you can let go of emotions that do not serve you, you can learn how to be more flexible and accept what comes of you.
Laugh at Yourself
One of the best ways to alleviate anxious thought is to laugh at yourself. When you are constantly hard on yourself, you can spend too much time in your head and miss what is going on right in front of you. By not taking yourself so seriously, you can enjoy your life and find small reasons to smile. Accept that everyone – including you – has flaws, and this will bring levity to your lifestyle.
Know When to Take a Break
Even if you try to loosen up, you may realize that some moments are full of stress or tension. When these moments creep up, you should know that it is okay to take a break. Walk away from the table, go to the restroom, or find somewhere to decompress and take a break from the situation. This can ground you in reality and allow you to take deep breaths so that you can de-escalate before returning to the table.
By following these tips, you can focus on alleviating your anxiety in social situations so that you can loosen up and make friends. When you struggle with anxiety, you may benefit from working with our professional counselors to learn about how to overcome some of these challenges in your life. Contact Orlando Thrive Therapy to hear about our approach to anxiety and trauma counseling in Orlando today.
