Surviving Holiday Parties When You Have Social Anxiety

Yahoo!:

Socializing is a major part of the holiday season, but many people find it difficult.

If you suffer anxiety or feel tongue-tied at festive gatherings, here are some helpful tips from Martin Antony, a psychology professor at Ryerson University in Toronto.

First, some advice about making conversation. Smile and make eye contact. Be approachable and open to conversation. Join an ongoing conversation, ideally with a group discussing a topic that interests you. Ask questions and be an active listener.

Try not to simply avoid going to parties altogether. Avoiding fearful situations will only cause your anxiety to increase over time, Antony said. If you’re shy, talking to others can be challenging at first but will get easier if you keep working at being social.

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