Social Anxiety - New Beliefs

It is extremely important while changing negative thoughts into positive beliefs to be realistic. If the new thoughts that are to be practiced are not realistic, there's a slim chance of overcoming social anxiety.

People with social anxiety have practiced negative faults for a very long time. Changing these to positive thoughts will not happen over-night, nor ever if you don't believe them.

I struggle with this every day. I usually get stuck at this point. I can replace my “faulty” thoughts with new, healthier thoughts. I can change my unrealistic expectations with a truer picture. However, when it comes down to actually believing this new way of thinking, it is very hard.

That is where practice comes in. You can't avoid social situations and expect to overcome social anxiety. It just doesn't work that way.

I found that starting out slow helped. Whenever I had to go somewhere, I would drag someone with me. What I failed to do, is keep aware of my thoughts, changing them from negative to positive.

I thought just by “doing” things would solve my problem. It didn't. All I accomplished was to be able to do things as long as someone was with me. I still had all the same negative thoughts, expectations, and beliefs.

So, I had to come up with a different strategy.

Until next time....