Action Challenge Tips

Sometimes I need additional help when I am trying to overcome my social anxiety by actually doing things and facing my fears. That is O.K. Social anxiety can be extremely hard to overcome for some people.

I have listed some of my fears in prior postings, and one of my fears is going to the store. My therapist suggested I try the steps below:

• Drive to the store with my safe-person and spend one minute sitting in the parking lot.
• Drive to the store as many times as I need, sitting in the parking lot until I can handle any anxiety
• Drive to the store and actually walk up to the doors, sit on a bench if available
• Do this with my safe-person first, and then do it alone.
• On the next visit, go into the store with my safe-person, spend a few minutes and leave.
• Next, go into the store with my safe-person and buy 1 item.
• Go into the store with my safe-person and buy 2 items in different parts of the store, so that I am in there longer.
• Drive to the store with my safe-person, but go into the store alone and buy one item.
• Do this again the next time, only stay a little longer and buy two items.
• Go to the store by myself, buy one item, and slowly increase my time in the store with each visit.

This is what I mean by taking it slow! Some people with social anxiety may be able to skip some steps. It depends on the severity of your anxiety. Everyone is different, so obviously the steps above are just what my therapist suggested for me.

Whatever fear you are trying to overcome, just take it in small steps, and you will succeed! Do not tell yourself you cannot do something. If you continue to tell yourself you can't, you will start to believe it.

On another note, today is my birthday, which for some people is a happy occasion. For me, I will be getting my coping cards ready for when the phone rings, or when visitors stop by, or for whatever my family has planned for me. It is just another anxious day.

We can do this!

Until next time...