Social Anxiety

Your time at college/school isn't just about learning stuff related to your subject, it's also about gaining social skills that you will be using for the rest of your life, both in your personal and professional life. For many this skill is gained automatically, by trial and error. For shy students it isn't quite that easy. If you do not develop proper social skills at school or college you will notice this in the future. You will not be as confident during job interviews, or during conversations with fellow employees. Shyness is a lack of self esteem, and a fear of rejection. Shy people usually look for the approval of others before they take action. This can dramatically slow down your personal development. Social anxiety prevents affected individuals do not ask for help when they need it most.

Taking control of your life, and working on reducing and/or eliminating social anxiety is a very important step to take! There are quite a few things you can do yourself to reduce social anxiety. You will have to start with some adjustments to your attitude. Don't expect impossible things from yourself.

Create realistic goals that you can achieve, no matter how small they initially appear to you!

No one is perfect. Aiming for perfection is a sure way to feel bad when the result doesn't fit your image of perfection. Self-criticism is very important, but don't take it too far. You must mix self-criticism with a healthy dose of supportive ideas.

When you start your new job do not think that people will think less of you if you cannot reach their level of efficiency straight away. It took them years to gain the skills and experience to perform at their level. Most companies prefer their employees to take small steps instead of skipping many steps and causing a burn-out in the end. Give yourself some months to get used to your work. Get to know the people, talk to them. Create a good atmosphere in which your social anxiety doesn't dominate.

This may sound obvious, but saying “hello” to people, or nodding/smiling, when you pass them will build up confidence. A very small step, yes, but nonetheless very important! Social interaction trains your social skills, and increases self-confidence. Also, you can join groups with similar interests. It's easier to interact with people who share your interests. Getting rid of anxiety isn't easy, especially the first steps will take a lot of effort, but the final result is worth your dedication.