Overcoming Social Anxiety: Strategies for Building Confidence in Social Situations

When I was younger, I used to be incredibly shy and awkward in social situations. It didn't matter where I was; I would just clam up whenever I found myself in new settings.


It wasn't until I was in college that I finally started overcoming my social anxiety. And I think the reason why was because I knew what the solution was. I learned to treat every social interaction like an interview for which I was the candidate and the goal was to impress the interviewer. I practiced my pitch to the point that now I can tell you everything I would say if I were being interviewed. And I can also remember how to say that even if my heart rate doubles, my voice shakes, and my palms sweat.

Now I want to share with you some strategies that helped me overcome my social anxiety. They may not work for everyone, but you never know unless you try, right?

Start Preparing Early

The most important thing about social anxiety is that you should prepare well ahead of time. Make sure you have plenty of time to prepare before you go somewhere. When I say prepare, I mean planning what you'll say, thinking through your approach, and rehearsing what you'll say and what you'll do. I usually go into any social situation knowing what I want to achieve. It could be something big like a job interview, or it could be something small like asking for a friend's number. Whatever the goal is, make sure you prepare well in advance.

Make a Plan

The second thing to know about social anxiety is that you shouldn't just wing it. If you have a goal in mind, whether it's an interview or going to a party, make sure you plan what you're going to do. Decide on your approach and exactly what you're going to say, and then write it down. If you have a script, use it. When you're nervous, you need to have something to fall back on, and if you're not prepared, your speech could turn into a disaster.

Get Support

Lastly, you need to surround yourself with positive people. This doesn't just mean that your family and friends have to be supportive, but that you should talk to people who will support you. For example, if you're going to a party or you're having a job interview, talk to someone who's experienced the same situation before. Talk to them, learn from them, and then apply that knowledge to your own life. That way you're not relying solely on your own resources, but instead you're getting support from a person who has already been in the same position.

That's it! Those three things have helped me overcome social anxiety. If you're struggling with this problem, keep in mind the techniques above and I hope you find them helpful.