Also known as social phobia, social anxiety is a kind of condition that triggers fear in social environments. People who have this disorder find it hard to participate in social gatherings, make new friends, and converse with others. Though they’re aware of their fears, they feel helpless and afraid of what others think of them.
Some psychological symptoms of social anxiety are worrying about an event for days or even weeks, skipping social gatherings like parties, and worrying about humiliating yourself in public.
When you have anxiety, life as a mom can be even more stressful and almost impossible to deal with. But to protect the well-being of your kids, you’ll need to learn how to manage your social anxiety. Whether you’re going to the playground, talking to teachers, or meeting with other moms, it’s essential to know how to handle social interactions.
Read on to learn how to work out your social anxiety as a mom.
1) Pay Attention To Your Child
Managing social anxiety can be difficult for an introverted mom. But if you need to interact with others for the sake of your little one, you should look for ways to reduce your anxiety. One way to do that is to pay attention to your child instead of others. This way, you’ll feel more at ease and find social interactions much easier to deal with.
For example, if you’re dealing with your child’s tantrums at the grocery store, think about what you can do at that moment and try to ignore what other people might say or think about you. The more you take your mind away from other people, the better you can overcome social anxiety by not adding any fuel to it.
2) Try Some Self-Care Strategies
When it comes to keeping yourself mentally healthy, practicing self-care will be an excellent solution. There are so many things you can do to improve your mental and emotional well-being while taking care of your child. Here are some common self-care strategies that you can try:
- Create healthy sleeping habits to relax and forget any daily worries.
- Perform some mindfulness techniques, such as yoga or deep breathing exercises, to clear your mind of worries. Breathing exercises will especially help when you’re out with others.
- Learn more about social anxiety and how to cope with it by reading books.
- Do some hobbies that can make you feel relaxed and less anxious, such as painting, drawing, gardening, and taking pictures.
- Take some supplements like nootropics. Nootropics are cognition enhancers used to address the chemical imbalance in your brain’s neurotransmitters, which cause social anxiety. If you’re thinking of taking one, you can check out this list of the best nootropics for social anxiety or other sources to find the right product that suits your needs.
3) Seek Professional Help
Social anxiety can disrupt your daily routines and interpersonal relationships. So, if you feel like your anxiety has started to overpower you in social interactions, you’ll have to seek professional help from a counselor, a psychologist, or a therapist.
Generally, working with a professional will help relieve symptoms significantly and boost your self-confidence. For example, they can introduce you to forms of therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This treatment is designed to help patients identify and fight negative beliefs or assumptions about themselves.
During therapy, you’ll learn how to enhance your coping skills by engaging in some activities, such as role-playing and social skills training.
4) Get Yourself Out There
If you suffer from social anxiety as a mother, one of the best ways to handle it is to get yourself out there. Although it’s easy to avoid situations that can make you feel afraid or anxious, it’s essential to accept invitations to some social gatherings to practice your social skills and minimize anxiety.
By getting yourself out there, you can develop social and communication skills needed to work out your social anxiety. For instance, you feel less anxious when you know how to communicate well with others. Try to join some group conversations, share your opinions or thoughts, or tell stories. Communicating with others will make you stronger and more confident.
Bottom Line
Social anxiety is a mental health condition that can affect your role as a mom. You worry about attending your child’s soccer game, meeting other parents, or visiting school for a parent-teacher conference. Social interactions are inevitable, but they can be easier to deal with when you know how to manage your condition.
