Avoidance Techniques Are Making Your Social Anxiety Worse can be hurtful in many ways.
Living with Social Anxiety Disorder often leads individuals to develop avoidance or safety behaviours as a means of coping.
Avoidance techniques are making their social anxiety worse.
While these behaviours may provide temporary relief, they inadvertently contribute to the worsening of anxiety symptoms.
It is important to recognize common avoidance techniques and understand how they perpetuate social anxiety.
Avoidance, considered a major hurdle for individuals with social anxiety, involves actively evading situations that trigger fear or discomfort.
This can range from declining party invitations and skipping social gatherings to making career changes to avoid public speaking.
Even dropping out of educational pursuits.
Partial avoidance, a subtler form of safety behaviour, allows individuals to appear engaged while still protecting themselves.
Examples of partial avoidance include sitting at the back of a room, and maintaining lowered eye contact while appearing immersed in note-taking.
Also displaying defensive body language like crossed arms or avoiding eye contact, daydreaming, and resorting to substances such as alcohol or drugs.
Escape serves as a safety valve for anxiety, providing a temporary respite from overwhelming stress.
Similar to partial avoidance, individuals engaging in escape behaviours may appear to participate but eventually reach a breaking point and feel compelled to leave.
This can involve leaving social events prematurely, fabricating urgent messages to exit meetings, or seeking refuge in secluded areas like restrooms.
However, it is crucial to recognize that while avoidance behaviours offer momentary relief, they reinforce vulnerability and perpetuate a state of hypervigilance.
This is where individuals are constantly on guard for potential threats or anxiety-inducing situations.
Engaging in avoidant behaviours keeps individuals trapped in the cycle of social anxiety.
It prevents them from facing challenges, experiencing failures and successes, and learning important lessons.
By staying silent in meetings, valuable ideas remain unshared, and by concealing one’s talents, opportunities for personal growth and recognition are missed.
To begin overcoming social anxiety, a simple yet effective technique is the five-minute strategy.
When the urge to avoid or retreat arises, challenge yourself to endure for just five minutes.
Most people can endure discomfort for such a short duration.
Give it a try, be compassionate towards yourself, and encourage your authentic self to take small steps towards growth and self-acceptance.
Avoidance Techniques Are Making Your Social Anxiety Worse just think about it!!!