A person with social anxiety may experience uneasiness in everyday social situations. She may be afraid of being judged negatively by others or worry about embarrassing herself. There may a fear of talking with strangers, or dread of an upcoming social event. Physically, the socially anxious person may experience sweating, blushing, an upset stomach or difficulty breathing.
There are several ways to deal with this condition, including self-help strategies. These may involve relaxation and deep breathing techniques. It may also include joining online forums, and healthy self-care practices like proper eating, exercise and good sleep habits.
Tips on Overcoming Social Anxiety
For those with social anxiety, interacting with neighbors may be especially difficult, particularly when moving into a new senior living community. Striking up a conversation with a new neighbor, and even leaving one’s home or apartment may be distressing. Instead of avoiding these possible interactions, consider the following:
- choose a time to introduce yourself to your neighbor, ideally at a time when neither of you are in a hurry
- small talk can center on the area you live in, other neighbors, nearby activities and events
- have a question or two in mind to keep the conversation moving
- look for somethings to compliment or what you may have in common
- consider an invitation to get together for coffee or your homemade cookies
- view your neighbors as old friends, as your perception will influence how trustworthy you believe they are
Building better social skills will help to reduce social anxiety, and open ourselves up to new opportunities, new friends, and rewarding relationships.
This article is referenced in the Living to 100 Club’s new publication: Better, Longer & Happier: A Guide to Aging with Purpose and Positivity Module 06 explores the strategies to increase social engagement.
