James Donaldson on Mental Health - Tips for Managing Social Anxiety

Writer: Rachel Ehmke Clinical Expert: Rachel Busman, PsyD, ABPP What You'll Learn Why does facing anxiety help make it go away?

What can help you relax in social situations?

Quick Read Full Article Don’t avoid things Push yourself Practice Relax Many teenagers — and adults, too!

— get anxious when we have to do something we’re unsure of.

Whether it’s about speaking in front of the class, trying something new, or making a phone call, we worry that we might embarrass ourselves or make a mistake.

But it’s important not to avoid things because they make you anxious.

That helps in the short run, but the anxiety will still be there, maybe even stronger, the next time.

Instead, if you try to push though the anxiety, you will get stronger and it will get weaker.

When you push through anxious feelings to do something that makes you nervous, you’re learning you have the skills to come out the other side.

You can practice by easing yourself into things that make you nervous.