Stage 1 · Lesson 7 of 7
When the fear is very strong
For some people, the fear of speaking or being watched is so strong that they avoid classes, skip meetings, cannot eat before a presentation or feel panic for days. If that sounds like you, it may be more than ordinary nerves, and it is worth talking to a doctor, counsellor or psychologist.
Social anxiety is common and treatable, and CBT-based help has good evidence behind it. The Sefism roadmap on looking after your mental health at /roadmaps/mental-health/ explains how to find help. The small steps in this roadmap can still sit alongside professional support.
Common trapthinking strong fear is a personality flaw you must handle alone.
A question to check yourself come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it
Resources for this stage
Start with· follow one of these
- VideoFreeThe Skill of Self Confidence (Dr. Ivan Joseph, TEDxRyersonU)
Dr. Ivan Joseph (TEDxRyersonU)
Confidence as a skill built through repetition, from a university sports coach
- BookPaidQuiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking (Susan Cain)
Susan Cain (Crown) · Paid book
Why quiet people bring real strengths, and how to contribute in your own way
Keep handy
Also worth your time
Struggling right now? If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services or a crisis line: Find a helpline (any country), Umang (Pakistan), Tele-MANAS, 14416 (India).