Tips for talking to new people

It's scary being in new social situations, especially because social situations involve talking. When you suffer from social anxiety, talking is often not the most simple thing to do. Here are some tips to help you keep the conversation going and stop you from being so nervous the next time you're in a chatty situation

Listen

A lot of time when we speak, we are constantly trying to fill silence to keep things from getting awkward. Instead of babbling on about nothing, listen to your talking partner. If both parties are listening and responding conversation will come much more naturally. 

Keep up with current events 

Keeping up with the news is  great way to have things to talk about all of the time. You don't need to have big deep political discussions or anything like that, but it's a good way to have some topics to bring up if the conversation comes to a halt. 

Look for common ground 

If you find something that you have in common with the person you are talking to, the conversation will go much smoother. You'll be able to talk for ages if you find out that you both share the same movie or love the same restaurant. Maybe you even have a shared hatred of something with that person.  Even people who are complete opposites will have something in common. 

Facts about social anxiety

Social anxiety disorder is one of the biggest mental health problems in the world. If you always thought that you were alone with your fears, you really aren't. Lots of people face this problem every day. Social anxiety can be defined as a fear of social situations that involve interacting with other people. This may be because of a deep rooted fear of being judged or evaluated by other people, or it could be for no reason at all.

Social anxiety is often times commonly mistaken for shyness. People who have social anxiety are often considered by others be be withdrawn and unfriendly, but this not true. Most people with social anxiety would love to make friends and be involved in many social situations, however their fears and anxieties hold them back.

Some situations that may trigger someone to feel anxiety in social situations include:
Being introduced to new people
Being criticized and teased
Being watched
Being the center of attention
Having to speak in public
Meeting authority figures
Feeling out of place
Embarrassing situations

Most people who have social anxiety know that their anxiety is irrational, but that does not stop the anxiety from occuring. The feeling of anxiety continue on. It is a truly debilitating illness, and can make people feel hopeless and lonely. Social anxiety affects people emotionally. It may leave the person experiencing the anxiety feeling nervous. They will blush excessively, tremble and sweat.

For those who feel social anxiety or feel socially awkward in many situations. The link provided is a good source of inspirational information to get you started with life.

Helpful videos on social anxiety