Office Politics and Social Anxiety

Bighead81

New member
I have always had an issue. I was a shy child and it evolved into a person with social anxiety due to many factors.

In the past I was a person who avoided many social situations and if I did venture it was to known territory such as friends and comfortable places. When I did enter unknown territory I became anxious, red, shakes and worried. it has been displayed in interviews, moments of public speaking and many other moments. Even on a train on my own!

For the last 2 years I have taken upon myself to manage and treat SA. I have read books and visit CBT. Basically they say confront it and it will become easier. I am now able to do forms of public speaking (have begun toastmaster Hopefully what will help!!), I can speak to small amounts of people. I cant speak naturally in front of 3+ people i.e have a laugh or joke!! So now my social anxiety is displayed and perceived by people as being a loof, rigid, dry, weird so basically anti social.

I started a new job which involves OFFICE. A big office! People I work with are expecting me to fail, I have heard horrible comments and it has generally made me feel uncomfortable. I know most of my team members talk behind my back. I try to focus on my job but people notice I am uncomfortable. Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with this? How to manoeuvre through office environment successfully as a person with SA? How they have controlled or overcome SA?

thanks in advance
 
Last edited:

Richey

Well-known member
Office politics and ego in the office etc. happens everywhere, all across the world.

A way that can help to deal with it is to literally not care about all the background stuff that goes on. So what I mean is, there may be office cliques that like to gossip. Loud and arrogant people. Competitive.

You can choose to switch all that off and to only focus on your role, realising that there are infinite opportunities elsewhere. So when you get to work, you only focus on your projects and tasks, maybe a couple of your team members that you like, take the time to nourish and talk to them instead of being at all bothered by the craziness of the office that is completely outside of your control.
 
Top