{"id":403,"date":"2020-10-23T16:00:06","date_gmt":"2020-10-23T20:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rachelfreedlandmsw.com\/?p=403"},"modified":"2020-10-28T11:43:53","modified_gmt":"2020-10-28T15:43:53","slug":"lonely-in-a-crowd-overcoming-social-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rachelfreedlandmsw.com\/pt\/lonely-in-a-crowd-overcoming-social-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Lonely in a Crowd: Overcoming Social Anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are social creatures and are hardwired with the need to relate to others.  Yet some of us feel isolated despite being surrounded by people. We may struggle to belong even when we are in the company of friendly and familiar faces. This is the world of social anxiety – where a deep sense of discomfort and detachment characterizes almost every social interaction<\/p>\n

The heart of it:<\/h2>\n

At the heart of social anxiety<\/a> <\/strong>is an unwillingness to express our emotions. Fears of vulnerability or rejection discourage us from entrusting our feelings to other people. This can be especially true if we\u2019ve been hurt in social situations in the past, and associate emotional expression with danger.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a Cycle:<\/h2>\n

However it starts, unaddressed social anxiety works as a cycle: When we feel uneasy in the company of others, we bottle up our feelings or express feelings that aren\u2019t genuine. This comes across as unwelcoming or inauthentic and makes it less likely for others to socialize with us. We feel rejected and alienated and less likely to share our emotions.<\/p>\n

In summary, this is what it looks like: We withdraw from social exchanges ? we feel less connected? it becomes harder to feel comfortable in social situations? we withdraw even more.<\/p>\n

Getting Healthy<\/h2>\n

Overcoming social anxiety with thought and behavior changes empowers us to connect more deeply to people and develop lasting and meaningful relationships.<\/p>\n

There are three important anchors in a healthy relationship:<\/p>\n