How to Beat Shyness and Anxiety
How to Beat Shyness and Anxiety Before It Beats You
Estimates range that from 3 to 12 percent of the overall population suffers from social phobia or extreme shyness. Most individuals who are affected never seek help because of fear of humiliation and embarrassment. For this reason, social phobics are very much an unstudied population. Those who do seek help often receive inappropriate or ineffective treatment. Most current treatment of social anxiety is based on medication. For many individuals this just breed further dependence, which itself is a big part of the problem.
Before psychologists came up with the term social anxiety disorder, people were just shy. People who stayed away from social situations, or had difficulty making friends, or steered clear of public speaking were termed shy. What most people didn't know was that the shyness was an expression of a deep-seated anxiety felt in those situations. The degree of shyness and anxiety can vary from person to person, and even situation to situation. Some may be fine with one-on-one interactions, but are absolutely terrified of public speaking; others can speak in front of large crowds but freeze up when having to talk to one or two people. Depending on the severity, shyness and anxiety can grow to such a degree that it takes over a person's entire life. People begin to make decisions about whether or not to participate in different activities based on how anxious they become. They find their anxiety and shyness in control, instead of them controlling their anxiety and shyness.
It is possible to beat shyness and anxiety before it beats you. All you have to do is make the decision that you are going to control your shyness and anxiety, instead of them controlling you. It is not easy; it takes time and courage. With determination, however, you can overcome the shyness and anxiety you've felt most of your life.
Estimates range that from 3 to 12 percent of the overall population suffers from social phobia or extreme shyness. Most individuals who are affected never seek help because of fear of humiliation and embarrassment. For this reason, social phobics are very much an unstudied population. Those who do seek help often receive inappropriate or ineffective treatment. Most current treatment of social anxiety is based on medication. For many individuals this just breed further dependence, which itself is a big part of the problem.
Before psychologists came up with the term social anxiety disorder, people were just shy. People who stayed away from social situations, or had difficulty making friends, or steered clear of public speaking were termed shy. What most people didn't know was that the shyness was an expression of a deep-seated anxiety felt in those situations. The degree of shyness and anxiety can vary from person to person, and even situation to situation. Some may be fine with one-on-one interactions, but are absolutely terrified of public speaking; others can speak in front of large crowds but freeze up when having to talk to one or two people. Depending on the severity, shyness and anxiety can grow to such a degree that it takes over a person's entire life. People begin to make decisions about whether or not to participate in different activities based on how anxious they become. They find their anxiety and shyness in control, instead of them controlling their anxiety and shyness.
It is possible to beat shyness and anxiety before it beats you. All you have to do is make the decision that you are going to control your shyness and anxiety, instead of them controlling you. It is not easy; it takes time and courage. With determination, however, you can overcome the shyness and anxiety you've felt most of your life.