Support Groups Can Help Overcome Social Anxiety

By Lisa Tate

For years, I thought I was the only one with social anxiety. I thought my symptoms  were simply physiological and that my situation couldn’t be improved.

I have since learned that I was wrong then. Social anxiety can be improved and the answers are within reach.

For me, persistence and deliberately trying to not avoid things have been responsible for much of my advancement. I started a group because there were some areas that I have had to still personally work on, even though I had made tremendous progress throughout the years. I also wanted a group to be able to help people in the same situation, particularly those younger whose lives were paralyzed by pain.

Before starting our group, I went online looking for one near where I live in South New Jersey. I found a website that is a forum for people with SAD. But, I couldn’t find one near where I live. I realized I needed to take the initiative, so I decided to start one.

Only two people showed up to the first gathering in 2012. Since then, my co-founder and I have seen the group grow. We have created a 12-week series, based on research and techniques that have helped us. We estimate we have helped nearly 200 people.

I believe the group format is an advantage. The group format becomes a safe laboratory. For example, we practice speeches, presentations, job interviews, dating skills, even returning an item to a store, through simulation and role-playing.

For me, running the group meetings is an enormous personal achievement. Instead of that type of activity being something I would dread for weeks, I now look forward to it.

It has struck me time and time again how much every single person has to offer. We’re unlocking people and allowing them to share their talents with the world.

To learn more about our group, visit www.findyourvoicenj.org.

If you’re not in our service area, you can look for informal support groups at socialanxietysupport.com or meetup.com.

-Lisa Tate

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