Anxiety is a basic trait that we all have. Every one of us naturally feels worried or afraid at some moment in our lives. Although occasionally feeling anxious is natural, having an anxiety disorder is not. There is much more to anxiety disorders than a passing state of tension and worry. People who struggle with anxiety may find it extremely difficult to carry out even the most elementary duties that come naturally to others. These can severely affect a person’s relationships, work, and personal life.
People who experience social anxiety worry about how they will seem to others and experience anxiety. If it’s particularly bad, social anxiety can lead to underperformance at work and school and can influence daily decisions. When someone is socially anxious, their focus changes to their emotions and worries about how they think others will see them. They could glance away or avoid making eye contact, which makes it challenging to discern how others are actually reacting to them.
Social Anxiety in the Workplace
The majority of people encounter some work-related stress. Working with others might be terrifying for a person who is socially nervous. You should try to avoid confrontations with the administration and co-workers since they might be upsetting. The definition of social anxiety is a constant worry of being seen and evaluated. People who have social anxiety aren’t only reserved; they also worry about being looked at or criticized.
This might provide tough problems at work, where socializing, meetings, and assessments are common occurrences. An individual with social anxiety may perceive these conditions with an increased heart rate, nausea, excessive trembling or perspiration, and the inability to think clearly. They can have a strong want to stay away from circumstances that make them nervous.
If a colleague or any of your employees suffers from social anxiety, Usually, they’ll experience extreme self-consciousness while they must communicate with others. They may feel inferior to themselves and unworthy and unsure about their interpersonal connections.
They might:
- Avoid direct eye-to-eye contact if they believe that everyone is observing them.
- Especially with strangers, they worry that someone may criticize what they say.
- They may be afraid to disturb others out of fear of coming across as dull, ignorant, or inept.
- They may struggle to be aggressive enough to do and say what they like, and fret excessively before a meeting or occasion.
- Analyze the issue compulsively for weeks in advance, convinced they said something inappropriate.
- Might have smoked, consumed alcohol, used, or done something better than substance use to prepare for an occasion and cope.
Ways to help employees/colleagues with social anxiety:-
1. Start a Conversation:
The most challenging aspect of helping somebody with social anxiety is frequently starting the conversation or determining whether it is even appropriate to do so. One guideline is to avoid bringing up the subject until the person’s social anxiety is seriously impeding their job or badly affecting others.
Having said that, it’s critical that you can respect one another’s differences. While some people might prefer to work in peace or recharge during solitary lunch breaks, these are not good reasons to strike up the discussion. But if you believe that someone’s social anxiety is impairing their performance, reach out to them by striking up a discussion.
2. Reduce surprises
Socially anxious people struggle with shocks and uncertainty. Don’t simply call them in out of nowhere blue and start chatting about the subject at hand if you need to discuss with them about something, particularly anything new or important. Inform them in advance that you would like to speak with them later that day or the next morning. When it’s feasible, give them a quick rundown of what you want to talk about. They will feel more at ease and less apprehensive thanks to these little measures.
3. Allow them for self-care
Employees with a social anxiety disorder may consult a therapist/Online Counsellor at TalktoAngel an Online Counselling Platform or use self-care techniques. Allow them to complete their work throughout the workday. Be understanding if they need to leave the activity they are working on to relax or perform some mindfulness exercises. These are really helpful tools for anxious individuals, and these exercises will enable them to perform better for your business/organization.
4. Define responsibilities and expectations clearly.
Uncertainty is what causes anxiety, therefore reducing it as much as you can is essential. Setting defined duties and expectations might be a good way to help socially awkward staff. Taking part in unstructured activities like panel sessions might be intimidating. You enable them to perform to the best of their ability by assigning them to tasks that are well-structured and have distinct functions. Give everyone the opportunity to express their comments later via a separate channel when soliciting opinions from the whole organization during major events like all-hands meetings. People who struggle with social phobia are reluctant to speak up in front of a big group of people without first having time to consider their options.
Depending on how much your social anxiety disorder interferes with your ability to carry out daily tasks, you may need treatment. Psychotherapy (also known as Psychological Counselling or talk therapy), medicines, or a combination of the two are the most typical treatments for social anxiety disorder. Talk to your mental health expert or an Online Counselor for more help.
