Dealing with social anxiety disorders at work is a continuous process that requires a person to recognize the day-to-day impact of the disorder on their career and identify solutions. The first step toward managing your social anxiety at work is to receive a diagnosis and enter treatment. If you have been feeling particularly anxious at work, you might be in search of social anxiety disorder treatment in California. True Life Center in San Diego has a number of treatment options available for you or your loved one struggling with social anxiety disorder. Reach out today to discover what treatment option works best for you via 866.420.1792.
Understanding Social Anxiety
Having social anxiety at work can be a tremendously difficult burden on a person who is just trying to do their job effectively. Many people with social anxiety disorder face specific problems within the workplace, such as:
- An inability to network effectively
- Fear of attending business or social events
- Problems developing relationships with co-workers
- Lack of self-confidence
- Difficulty speaking up in meetings
If you are feeling the effects of social anxiety within your workplace and feel that your anxiety is interfering with your career or advancement, it is worth investing the time to develop a comfort level with the social aspects of your job. There are a number of ways to overcome these anxieties, and they are best used in specific situations.
5 Ways to Overcome Social Anxiety at Work
Social anxiety can arise in many different situations within the workplace. Understanding how to cope with each aspect of what makes you anxious at work will help you overcome social anxiety generally.
1. Personal Development
Depending on the job that you may have, your job might require you to contact customers, give presentations or speeches, or tend to other socially daunting tasks. Managing anxiety can be especially difficult when your job depends on specific social skills.
However, choosing a job that suits both your interests and personality can encourage you to work on your anxiety. To boost your performance at work, consider social skills training or public speaking training. You could even read a self-help book about social skills.
2. Connect with Coworkers
Networking is an essential part of being successful in your career. If you have a difficult time building relationships within your workplace, it will be significantly more challenging to advance in your career. Aside from networking, it is also nice to form a sense of community by having friends at work.
In order to become more comfortable overcoming social anxiety in work meetings and settings, you should try to expand your comfort zone constantly. This can be done by engaging in small talk with a variety of people, perhaps in the break room or the elevator. This way, people will know that you are also approachable. Rather than being nervous about saying the right thing, just say something and be present.
3. Develop Communication Skills
Speaking to your supervisors can be scary if you’re trying to overcome an anxiety disorder. However, if you make an appointment beforehand, you give yourself the opportunity to rehearse what you’re going to say. However, don’t over-practice, as this is a safety behavior and will end up being counterproductive. If this doesn’t work, try communicating through email first. You could also prepare a list of notes before attending a meeting.
4. Get a Head Start
If you have social anxiety in work meetings, try arriving ten to fifteen minutes early so that you can meet people as they enter. This will help you feel less isolated in meetings. You can also monitor how you think during meetings. Are you having positive thoughts about yourself? If not, try to reverse the narrative if you can.
5. Prep for Small Talk
You may be required or expected to attend some functions outside of work. If you make sure that you have something to talk about beforehand, you might have an easier time interacting with coworkers.
Find Effective Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment at True Life Center
If you are dealing with social anxiety at work, you might want to consider social anxiety disorder treatment in California with True Life Center. Reach out to one of our professionals today via 866.420.1792 or fill out our online form to discuss treatment options.
