"All this hurrying from place to place won’t bring you any relief, for you’re travelling in the company of your own emotions, followed by your troubles all the way." -Seneca
Social Anxiety Doesn’t Have to Lead to Social Isolation
If you have social anxiety, you’re not alone. In fact, 12.1% of adults experience social anxiety at some point during their life (The National Institute of Mental Health). Though this can be an overwhelming feeling at times, it doesn’t have to affect your ability to build meaningful, long-lasting professional relationships.
technology as a crutch for social anxiety
The vast array of technology tools available today, including social media, email, and text messages, makes it easy to hide behind a screen instead of having any face-to-face interaction. This is doubly true for people who experience social anxiety. At its worst, these intense emotions of anxiety and fear can not only lead to a lack of social interaction, but severe social isolation that can result in depression or use of alcohol or drugs as a crutch. Overcoming social anxiety is an essential part of learning to build successful professional relationships that can advance your career.
Overcoming Social Anxiety
Learning to cope with or overcome your social anxiety isn’t something that’s going to happen overnight - or if you don’t feel motivated to change it. However, if you’re ready to start the journey, Future Image Group can offer helpful, real tools and ways of thinking that will lead you to feel better in social situations, making it easier to attend networking events, speak up in the workplace, and build meaningful professional connections to make your office a more pleasant place for you or to advance your career.
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This is a process. It will take time, effort, and commitment. But, it is not hard once we’re over the fear of the unknown. If you know what you are afraid of, you can look it straight in the eye and work through it. The process will undoubtedly bring a level of richness, reward, and personal satisfaction through learning how to connect to each other as human beings and professionals.
“Mindless fear is greater than mindful fear.”