visualization technique for social anxiety

[rubbersole]

 hi,

    Heres a good technique i found on the net for helping with social situations.

Find somewhere quiet to sit and relax away from any distractions, take a few deep breaths and relax your mind. Once your in a relaxed state you can move to the next stage.

Now visualize a certain social situation it could be from the past or a future event. If your visualizing the past try to remember how you felt at that time if you were anxious remember how it felt, also remember the details of the situation like the colour of the room or what you were wearing etc. Importantly remember your emotions. If your visualizing a future situation the same applies imagine who will be there what the room or place looks like. With both examples visualize as vividly as you can, if you start to feel anxious when visualizing the situations dont fight these feelings just accept them.

Now visualize how you would like to feel in the situation if you want to feel relaxed and comfortable visualize your self being relaxed and comfortable. Remember all the details of the situation and how others are behaving around you visualize how you would like the situation to go. It is important to actually to see yourself being confident or relaxed rather than imagining what it would might be like to feel this way. If you visualize a situation you must replace the anxious feelings with your new feelings. It may be hard to do this at first but with practise it will become easier.

 I read this technique is best used before going to sleep or when you wake up in the morning as this is when your subconscious mind is more open to ideas from your conscious mind.

rubbersole.

[Mia]

This is a great technique, I use something similar to this when I come back to teaching after being away. Is hard to get the hang of, but can really help!

M x