anxiety self help troubles

[Amnesiac]

I recently realized something very odd. I have really bad social anxiety and have trouble looking people in the eye and even more so talking to people in social situations. Early this year I started going to the gym, something that I previously feared due to anxiety. But I started going and now it doesn't bother me at all to exercise around other people. After I became comfortable in the gym I decided to start running outside. Seeing how I live in a fairly suburban area, it isn't possible to go for a run without people seeing me. Oddly, it doesn't bother me at all when other people look at me when I go running. Even if I get stupid or rude looks, it doesn't bother me, I just assume they're jealous or dumb pricks, which is odd considering such looks would normally bother me for days.

So it occurred to me that if I'm fine exercising or running in public, why do things like public speaking, approaching others, looking at others, and using the kitchen when my roommates are around make me so anxious? There must be some way I can ease into these things similar to the way I eased into going to the gym and running outside, but I have no idea where to start. Any suggestions?

 

[coyote]

Cool!

Maybe you can run in the kitchen?

Just don't run with a knife in your hand.

My grandma told me you could put your eye out that way.

She should know - she wore an eye patch.

My grandma didn't have a hook or a peg leg, though.

She wasn't a pirate.

I don't think.


Anyway - it sounds like you're onto something. Keep at it! Good luck!

 

[JP81]

You're exactly right Amnesiac, it is really a matter of easing yourself into these situations. You could set goals of trying every day to communicate face-to-face...in fact it's very empowering when you consciously make the effort to tackle these problems head on.

In my case social anxiety comes from a sort of claustrophobia. I can't stand being in a closed room, whether it's a restaurant, an office, a meeting room, a university tutorial, you name it. It's funny/weird but I really love outdoor social settings because of this claustrophobia...like a bbq where you can move around from one person to another...I sorta get to be myself, lol

So for me, I'm trying to take steps in tackling this problem through practice. Like, to me it doesn't make sense that I fear these things...it seems totally nonsensical, but there you go.

Good luck, it's a problem with a fix.