BAD Social Anxiety ... HELP!

Any tips how to get over it? 28 yrs old

OP the mental 'chatter' in your head that creates the anxious feeling is all SELF-GENERATED. It's important to recognize that. By no means do those self-generated thoughts/criticisms/judgements represent any external reality as far as what other individuals are actually thinking. I know it's not easy to overcome but you need to realize that those thoughts you are projecting into the minds of others are originating from YOU, not them. You're not a mind-reader.

Truthfully, the large majority of individuals are more concerned about their own business and their own self-image when they are out and about, they are not investing any significant conscious energy focusing on you or any faults that you perceive you may possess.

I have a recommendation. Get an mp3 player or a smartphone and load some relaxing music onto it (classical, ambient, instrumentals, whatever). Get yourself some in-ear headphones and try listening to the relaxing music when you are out and about in public and would otherwise normally feel anxious. When you start to feel anxious just concentrate your thoughts on the audio stimulation, this will distract your over-active mind and stimulate a different region of your brain than the one that is responsible for that excessive mind 'chatter'. Listen at low volumes so you can still be acclimated to and process the other sounds around you and also hear people speak. You can even listen with just one headphone/earphone in one ear if you wanted to be discreet about it. The music will help you become more relaxed in that type of atmosphere and once you become more relaxed you can progress to where you find you do not even need any music or sensory stimulation to keep you calm. It's basically just retraining your brain/mind not to associate the anxious feelings with your social setting. Classical conditioning.

Try it out.

social anxiety is self-absorption from the negative end of the spectrum.

get yourself off your mind.

literally.

it's not about you.

i'm not being mean. i'm telling you the truth.

focus on the other people and when you start putting the focus back on yourself in a negative way, change your focus back to the other person.

get. yourself. off. your. mind.

Scotch johnny Wanker..

drink just a bit in a glass with 2 cubs of ice whenever u feel to calm down, especially when interacting with others, if u drink more that a glass u will get drunk...

pot makes me more anxious

I understand. Pot doesn't work for many people. Ecstasy in low, but not too low doses will probably help. E has a threshold effect, so don't go too low. Also, watch out for the many imposters sold as E. Don't do this all the time - it can mess with your hypothalamus and temperature regulation.

Good luck.

1. SAM-e. OTC, not a pharma med. Modulates your serotonin levels SAFELY. Not an anti-depressant.

2. Start going outside in actual live outside more, at least an hour daily

3. Start meeting your friends at least daily

4. Get off the Internet, max 2 hrs a day.

5. Do whatever makes YOU (not others, not others expectation of you) feel good.

6. Get in shape, take care of yourself.

7. Like already mentions : stop giving a fuck about what other people think about you. You are here for yourself. That doesn't mean that be an asshole. Do what feels good to you.

If this combo or some variation of it doesn't work, I'll give you your money back.

Any tips how to get over it? 28 yrs old

Don't take medication for it
Do not take pills for it

Just remember the more they smile the more they hide
You will be fine

No meds just beer!
Just want to meet people with same problem!

Hate meds

I know this sounds stupid..but is there social phobia meetings where you can meet other people that go through this!

Being drunk only helps so far! I hate being drunk!