Cure your Social Anxiety in Six Easy Steps

I didnt feel comfortable talking to people. My friends would organize social events and I wouldnt go, even when I wanted to. Why? I didnt know. I came up with lots of lame excuses for not wanting to go. But deep down I was dying to attend these events - I just couldnt. I know you know the feeling.

I thought I was shy.

So what? Some people are extroverts, some are introverts. Some are tall, some are short. I was shy. Thats who I was. Some people told me to just assume who I was, accept it, and be happy. Of course, the problem is that I assumed who I was - I just didnt like it and I was certainly NOT happy! If you were happy being who you are right now, chances are you wouldnt be reading this.

It took me a while to realize I wasnt shy or different. I was sick.

You are NOT a social phobic. You HAVE social phobia.

This is an absolutely vital point to understand. As long as you see social phobia as part of your personality, a part of who you are, youll never get rid of it. Your attitude from now on must be Im NOT a social phobic - I HAVE social phobia. Read it again. Read it aloud. Scream it. Read it every time you wake up. Convince yourself thats the true.

You arent different. You arent weird. You just have a disease, just like when you have a cold. And just like when you have a cold, you can get rid of it.

What is social phobia?

I dont care about the definition, and you shouldnt either - you have it, you know you have it, you suffer it every day, so its real enough without the need of a fancy technical definition.

No, what I mean is, whats the exact nature of the disease?

I thought a lot about it, and came to this simple conclusion : you are wrong.

You cant measure social phobia. They cant detect social phobia in a blood test. Why? Because its a problem that only exists inside your head. Thats actually very good news! Theres nothing seriously wrong with you, you just have an imaginary problem, and once you realize it youll be on your way to a cure.

No matter whats the belief that causes your social phobia, its most likely a wrong belief. Thats the key to a successful social anxiety treatment.

Where did this belief come from? Maybe from a bad experience when you were a kid or a teen. It was definitely my case.

Now ask yourself - are you still listening to the naive, immature reaction of that kid? Youve grown up! Now you have a better understanding about how the world works, you realize what mortified you as a kid was probably very inane. So why do you allow these petty problems be in control of your life today?

Realize youre wrong. When you are surrounded by people, most of them arent looking at you. Of the few that are, most arent judging you anyway. They arent thinking you look or act stupid. Most likely they dont even notice you.

Once you internalize these key concepts, getting rid of your social anxiety without the need of an expensive or long treatment will be way easier.