Overcoming Social Anxiety: A Path to School and Beyond

It's okay to feel unsure about your feelings. Social anxiety can be overwhelming, but writing down your thoughts and emotions can help you understand them better. If you feel comfortable, sharing these feelings with a trusted adult or friend can provide you with support in finding help. Consider reaching out to a school counselor if needed. For more insights, check out my Quora Profile!

Tell Your Doctor or Suck It Up and Go to School

Mental health issues, such as social anxiety, shouldn't be left unaddressed. Your doctor can help you get an appointment with a child psychiatrist for diagnosis and treatment. Alternatively, you can go to school and work through your anxiety by forcing yourself to face it over and over. Doing so gradually reduces the impact of anxiety.

Tell Your Parents: Why Not?

Why can't you tell your parents that you have social anxiety so bad it's preventing you from attending school? They will likely notice that you are skipping school and will ask why. As a parent myself, I would much rather my kids come to me when they are troubled. Writing them a letter might be easier, allowing you to take your time to formulate your thoughts. Be sure to mention how long this problem has been happening and if there are things they can do to help.

Personal Insights: Strategies for Overcoming Anxiety

I understand your struggle, as I've spent the past ten years researching and implementing ways to reduce and eliminate depression and anxiety. Here are some effective strategies based on personal experience and scientific evidence:

Physical Activity

Engaging in physical activity every day, such as gardening, playing sports, nature hikes, or swimming, is clearly proven to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety better than medication, without the side effects. Enriching your diet by replacing sweetened and salty foods with plain, whole foods can also help improve your mood and energy levels. Make sure to read ingredients lists to avoid hidden salts and sweeteners.

Setting Goals

Set small but meaningful goals to give yourself a reason to get out of bed each day. Start with simple tasks like tidying a small part of the house or washing a few dishes. Gradually, as you reach these goals, you will gain more confidence in setting larger ones. Don't be afraid to ask for help or support when needed.

Phasing Out Harmful Substances

Phasing out alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and other recreational drugs is crucial, as these substances can increase your risk of suffering from depression and anxiety in the long term. Focus on less mindless entertainment and seek more meaningful activities like chatting with friends, reading, learning, or spending time in nature.

Embrace Pain as a Part of Life

Accept that pain is a normal and healthy part of life. Many of us have been taught to believe that doing things perfectly will prevent suffering. However, life will always have its share of pain. By tolerating pain and feeling emotions like sadness or loneliness without numbing ourselves, we can improve our mental health and quality of life.

The science increasingly supports that these simple lifestyle strategies can dramatically improve mental health and even defeat depression and anxiety for good. Modern-day tribes that live according to ancient traditions generally do not experience clinical depression or anxiety disorders because they are physically active and avoid consuming processed foods and painkillers.

Remember, you're not alone. With the right support and strategies, you can overcome social anxiety and return to school. If you're struggling, seek help from trusted adults or professionals. Your journey towards mental wellness is worth it.