social anxiety

[Dylanandrews]

hey i was just wondering how to deal with social anxiety i only get anxiety when i have to met new people, like when i have to met my girlfriends friends. i dont know how to fix it and i need to figure something out

[PSY]

Welcome to TeenHelp!

First of all, I think it's fairly normal for people to feel anxious when they're meeting someone for the first time. You want to make a good impression, so you become increasingly aware of how you're acting/talking, and that can lead to feelings of nervousness. In my case, I continue to feel nervous, but I've begun to tell myself that it's "okay" and nothing bad is going to happen when I meet someone new. I also force myself into situations where I have to interact with new people on a regular basis - for example, I called a bunch of landlords today while looking for apartments. I don't enjoy talking to them over the phone, but I know it needs to be done, and I tell myself that the worst thing that can happen is having an awkward conversation - which is only going to be awkward if I FEEL like it's awkward! A lot of it is mental, to be honest. It's all about becoming aware of your own reactions to people and situations, and making adjustments so you can react in a more positive way.

If you can't seem to overcome this challenge on your own, I would talk to someone who specializes in social anxiety. It's a fairly common problem, and talking to a professional may give you some valuable tools for dealing with these sorts of situations.