FeelingGoodWithSofy

Hi guys!😊

In this mental-health blog post, I discuss about social anxiety, a bit of my story regarding this theme and some helpful tools along the way❤️❤️

Trigger warning: if you are grappling with mental-health challenges, please know that your wellbeing is crucial. This post touches on mental-health struggles while also sharing motivational advice along the way. the decision to read on is entirely yours!❤️❤️

The meaning of social anxiety

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a mental-health condition characterized by an intense and persistent feeling of social situations.

What sets it apart from typical shyness is an intense and pervasive concern about being scrutinized, judged, or publicly humiliated, which commonly drives people to avoid social situations altogether.

Social anxiety causes intense fear or worry in situations where people feel they’re being watched, assessed, or criticized. This often applies to common activities such as greeting strangers, initiating discussions, talking on the phone, working, or even dining in public.

I am one of the many who has social anxiety.

A bit of my story❤️

I’ve been struggling with social anxiety for quite some time now. Since a young age interacting with people apart from my closest family has been a real challenge.

I have always been shy (nothing wrong with that). At school, I was never the one who raised the hand in the classroom, I hated work groups and I felt inadequate most of the times when I had to present a work project in the classroom. Social activities, also apart from school, like swimming lessons, were really hard for me, I felt in a way a sort of an alien in the middle of a group of people.

My social anxiety has worsened with time. At first I felt quite okay being around classmates, people in general, I didn’t talk that much, I didn’t have many friends but I didn’t feel overwhelmed, nor so depressed. I remember it started to get worse at the age of 13.

An episode I remember when I went to the U.S.A. at 15 years old

At the age of 15, after I finished my first year of high-school, my family and I went to the United States because my sister had done an exchange year there. I was not keen at all to meet my sister’s “family” there in Vermont, plus we had to attend to several graduation parties… Every time I attended with my family a party I felt so out of place and I wanted to go away from everyone.

On one of those days of parties, my sister’s American family held the graduation party at their home. I felt so uncorfortable and not at ease that I remained in the bedroom where my family and I slept, for practically all day, untill all the guests had departed. I pretended to sleep when one of my parents tried to bring me downstairs, I was really so frightned to go downstairs, in the garden, where there were so many people and I was so scared they would ask me questions…

Healing from social anxiety is a true journey, at least that is my case. It consists with small, daily goals and with the awareness that things take time.

Some helpful tips along the way…❤️

• Psychotherapy: for me, going to therapy is always among the first important recommendations I give in any mental-health article. Having support from a professional therapist is fundamental if you are battling social anxiety.

• Medication: if necessary, a combination of therapy and medication can play a vital role to manage social anxiety. I am not a doctor, but a patient. If you struggle with anxiety, please contact a professional figure.

• Setting small, achievable goals: with the help of your therapist, loved ones, try slowly to get out of your comfort zone by setting small, daily, achievable goals like going to the pharmacy alone, taking up a yoga class and etc. Remember to be kind to yourself and try to not beat yourself up when things go wrong or slower than you thought it would take❤️

• Relaxation techniques: I like to relax my mind and calming myself down through mindful exercises like journaling, breathing techniques, yoga, meditations, going for a solo walk, watching a feel good film and so on.

Social anxiety is a true struggle and it can put you in challenging, trying situations but keep in mind that you are a true warrior to go through all those challenges!❤️

Much Love and Light ❤️✨

Sofia Lena😊

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