Do you feel you have to be "on" and put pressure on yourself? Is it more the other people seem intimidating( or exhausting)?
I think socially some good eye contact and just going with the other person's story works well. Borrow some of your T's skills and slightly mirror the other person. Try to ask questions/make a comment containing a word they used recently. Social skills are mainly giving good attention and being present- there's not much you have to do right or say right. The other person wants it to go well too, and it is very rare to meet someone who isn't overall benign and well-meaning in a social situation ( in my experience) .
Quote:
Originally Posted by growlycat
I’m really trying to refocus on what brings me to therapy. Yes I’m still working on the driving phobia but that is a long slog. So that continues.
One thing I’m working on and always seem to be working on is my social anxiety and trying to make friends and build relationships. I think I’m more phobic than I realized. T is away this weekend which gave me the chance to try something social on my own. I signed up for a three hour class/workshop but at the last moment I chickened out. But recently I bought tickets to an event in sept and invited two coworkers. I bought the tickets in advance to force myself to go.
It will be expensive if I chicken out.
I’m frustrated because I don’t know how any t can help me with this. I understand my history and how I got here but it’s not the same as being able to make changes.
If any of you suffer from social anxiety and making by friends how can a t actually help? If they were not helpful what did you do on your own? I’ve watched some interesting videos on YouTube about how to make friends as an adult. Halp!
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