Tips and advice

General

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• Consult your doctor. Social anxiety disorder is a recognised condition and your doctor will in no way humiliate you
• Talk to someone you trust about your problems - they can give you support and perspective which will make it easier to bear
• Facing your trigger situations constantly may seem like a good idea, but I found that its good to give your self esteem a rest once in a while, e.g. if work gives you anxiety attacks, take a holiday. I’m not advocating avoiding what you want/need to do, what I mean is that going out of your way to get a reaction because you feel you must isn’t always conducive to recovery
• Do as I did and take a solitary break away from your life, in a place where you know no-one. This is what provided me with the boost that ultimately ridded me of my anxiety.

'Out on the field'

• Let your blush/trembling/palpitations/sweating/whatever come, don't try and fight it. Difficult at first, with practice this can lesson your symptoms by allowing you to see that most people aren't going to humiliate you
• Everyone has weaknesses, you may be too focused on your own to notice those of others. Seeing that you're not alone can give your self esteem a boost. Watch for signs of discomfort in others in situations that you also find uncomfortable

• If you find yourself in a situation where you know you are going to have an anxiety attack at some specific point in the future (e.g. before going to a store or making a phone call) confront your feelings face on in a safe place (e.g. at home or in a toilet cubicle).
  I found that trying to distract myself from my anxious thoughts never helped, whereas contemplating the reasons behind the anxiety served to lesson the panic and often calmed me enough to avoid a panic attack.

Books

As I said previously, when I felt particularly isolated, some books seemed to mirror my sentiments so well that they eased the loneliness a little, or just put things into perspective.

The Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez