Social Anxiety

Hello little bird. Let me whisper in your ear. Words and wisdom, that you will hold dear. Let's say you go to a party, and you are nervous..heart beating. Why so scared? Because the party is a monster. Why is it a monster? Because it's judging you. And to be negatively judged by others, makes you feel like you are at the bottom of the pile. You ARE facing the dragon of chaos when you go into the social situation. What do you normally do? Are you hunched over, showing the monster that you are no threat? This a normal reaction in the face of a tyrant. If you look at the King, you are dead. Internal monologue runs rapid and wild..what are people thinking of me? what are people thinking of me? what are people thinking of me? Am I looking stupid? Am I looking foolish? OMG I'm awkward. I hate being here. I'm sweating too much. All internalized..all self focused. Eat yourself up even before the monster can. Your eyes are turned inside, watching the turmoil.

Don't stop thinking about yourself..because you can't. What you must do is LOOK AT OTHER PEOPLE. Look at them. Why? Because, if you look at them, you can tell what they are thinking. As soon as you push your attention outwards and you start watching, all your automatic mechanisms kick in, and you stop being awkward. If someone is talking to you, and you are looking down or away, they don't know what you are thinking. There are disjunctions in the way of communication. Like bad chords in the melody of conversation. So, PAY ATTENTION. Face the monster. Look it in the eye. Listen and speak.

Try it little bird. I'm right here with you..holding your hand. Smiling at how brave you are.