Dealing with Social Anxiety: Tips and Tricks

I'm working on it with my therapist, but so far buspar 30mg/day (one 10mg in the morning, afternoon, night) and going outside regularly has helped. My therapist suggested when I first started to take a friend or my partner with me and go anywhere I am able to leave (so like a grocery store, cafe, the park. Places I'm not required to stay.) If I have a clear goal (like buying milk or picking up prescriptions) it makes it easier to go into a place, since I can go directly to that goal and fulfill what i need. I've been staggering my grocery list and treating myself to coffee often, and it's been helping. I care less about what people think of me, I remind myself that people are out here for the same thing and I will be home soon. Leaned into my neurodivergency too and I carry a stim toy in my pocket to distract me. I still have bad days and I practice kindness when I do. I'm healing, I'm learning. I also do in person craft shows that can be 4 hours or longer with meeting and talking with people. That's been the hardest and I've been lucky to have a trusted friend attend with me. They make sure I stay hydrated, take my pills on time, snack, keep me talking, too. Otherwise I shut down or might get a panic attack. Shows have gotten easier, but still a hurdle. Take things at your pace. You got this. ❤️

I was the same, now he's gone it's hard sometimes, so I just listen to my music playing on YouTube when out walking,I don't socialise no more due to bullying etc I found coping alone is better for me, my mentalhealth is under control.

I've tried many avenues to turn down the anxiety in general life and in specific areas. For instance, busy/social places. Overall Sertraline (Zoloft) has really helped! I know it's mainly used as an antidepressant but the biggest change has been in my anxiety and worrying. I'm on a pretty strong dose and it took a bit of trial and error to get to this medication and dosage but worth it for me. I'm also on Atomoxetine for ADHD so that may have a play on the anxiety as well? For more specific situations, like shopping a crowded store, traveling, dealing with financial things and stressful situations, I've found that "mental work" has worked pretty dang well. E.g. Counseling, meditation and learning to take my thoughts captive. Catch the thoughts at the beginning before they become an emotion. It's not easy but it helps a ton. 1.Thoughts produce emotions 2.Emotions produce actions 3.Actions produce consequences/ reactions If you can learn to catch #1, the thought, at its beginning, you can avoid or lessen the second part of #1. The emotion. Explanation: Catching the point in the thought process that produces an emotion is the start. If you can learn to catch that point in the thought process, you then can knock out #2 & #3 before they even start. Like I said... it's not an easy thing to do but with practice it does get easier and one day little life triggers can be conquered. Hope this helps a bit! 💪🏼💪🏼