S–A-D

By Jian Krissy C. Barro

I can feel my hands shaking. I can sense my mouth trembling. I can hear my
voice cracking. I can feel my heart beating so fast. Have you ever experienced these
kinds of feelings when speaking in front of many people? Well, I did. Those are the
feelings that I felt right now. When I saw a sea of people’s eyes staring at me, expecting
something great. Thoughts started to form inside my head. The thought that those eyes
were somehow judging me though I have zero evidence to back it up, is just a thought
of mine as a result of being controlled by fear and my social anxiety.

Social anxiety or social phobia is a long-term and overwhelming fear of social

situations which may affect everyday activities, reduces self-esteem, interferes with our
studies, and enjoyment of life, or worse it will lead to severe anxiety or depression That
is why it is important to address social anxiety as early as it is because it can have a
significant impact on a person's quality of life. But how can we cope with this disorder?

First, shower yourself with self-affirmations. When you wake up in the morning,
try to look at yourself in the mirror and start having self-talk. Stating self-affirmations via
I am statements. Try to include it in your morning routine and eventually, it’ll boost your
positive opinion of yourself and you might gain more self-confidence. Second, go out of
your comfort zone. Face your fears in socializing. Make friends; join organizations and
other activities that involve social interactions. Moreover, there are a lot of ways to cope
with social anxiety but all we need first is the courage to take the first step, and that first
step starts within yourself.

When we come across moments of discomfort, embrace it and let our tears be a
medium to release our emotions, and ease the pain we’re feeling. Live the life that we
wanted, not the others. If you’re experiencing social anxiety, always remember that you
are not alone in this journey. Just let your confidence shine and no doubt we can get all
through of this. Why? Because no one has the power to overcome our doubts, worries,
and fears, other than ourselves.