Informative

Social Anxiety: A spiritual take

While being in social interactions, people with social anxiety feel uncertain and overwhelming self-consciousness. While being in public, they constantly fear rejection and negative judgement from others. Often mistaken for shyness, this disorder has physical repercussions like a higher heart rate, trembling, sweating, upset stomach, dizziness, or nausea.

Formerly known as social phobia, social anxiety disorder is an intense fear of social situations. It is well defined by physical symptoms like sweating, shaking, and many other signs. Around seven percent of the world population is affected by this symptom. Various scientific treatments are available these days to cope with social anxiety. But do you know that spiritual practices can contribute to lowering this anxiety? How? Let’s check it out.

  

Symptoms of social anxiety

There is a massive difference between social anxiety and jitters before a big presentation. We often confuse social anxiety with shyness. But unlike shyness, social anxiety could have drastic physical effects on a patient.

Tightness of the chest, rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, difficulty in catching breath, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, difficulty in speaking, jittery voice, or body sensation are a few of the physical effects of social anxiety on a human being.

Mind that these symptoms do not seize after the social interaction is over. After the conversations, the individual begins reflecting upon his behaviour and what he has said during the period, being engaged in hyper-self-criticism. Even after the days of the interaction, they continue to nit-pick everything they have said and done and come up with alternate responses of what they should have said and done instead while hating themselves.  

Dealing with social anxiety

Knowing yourself better includes knowing your buttons or triggers, which induce social anxiety. Simply, taking a step back and observing yourself from a third perspective can do this job. At the end of the day, you can check and note your anxiety levels and what positive actions you could take to reduce them goes the extra mile in coping with social anxiety.

Being open to your imperfections is part of self-acceptance. Before you want to heal from social anxiety, you must forgive yourself for your flaws, faults, shortcomings, failures, ugliness, and awkwardness. Reprogramming your mind to focus on your positive traits, strengths, style, or talents is the only way to move forwards when dealing with social anxiety. You can practice this by writing a self-love or gratitude journal. You can do that by self-affirmations, quick meditation, or reflection daily. Whatever suits you better.  

Taking several deep breaths could soften the edge when that soul-crushing crowd surrounds you. Few deep breaths will cure the shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, and jitters. Still, if you feel uncomfortable, do not be afraid to excuse yourself to remove yourself from the crowd to get some air.

Finding detachment is another effective way you can control your social anxiety. Detachment does not mean indifference or not caring. It means skillful or managed caring. It means looking at practical matters first instead of focusing on what others may or may not think about them. It means not to lose calmness even during a time of crisis. This can be achieved only through practice, experience, and patience. When dealing with social anxiety, detachment also means forgiving yourself for having these anxious feelings and moving on.  

You must mind one thing: how people treat you is a reflection on them, not on you. So if you have to deal with mean people, just know that how they feel about themselves decides how they feel about you. How do spiritual Gurus treat others with respect, kindness, and love? Because they treat themselves with respect, compassion, and love. Same as that, bitter and insecure people hate themselves, and hence they hate others and treat them with insecurity and harsh judgement. Don’t let them change who you are and how you behave.  

Chakra and social anxiety

Solar plexus chakra, also called Manipura chakra, is responsible for controlling our digestive systems and hormonal glands. A well-balanced solar plexus brings a sense of purpose to the seeker’s life. Along with that, it’s known to bring confidence and self-motivation as well.

Imbalanced or blocked solar plexus can lead to many bodily ailments related to the digestive and glandular systems. When this chakra is imbalanced, it can make you absorb the negativity lurking around you. Imbalanced solar plexus chakra is responsible for low self-esteem, self-doubt, lack of enthusiasm, and abysmal self-confidence, which leads to social anxiety.

There are various ways by which one can bring balance to the Manipura chakra. Crystals like citrine, amber, tiger’s eye, and lemon quarts can aid in cleansing the chakra. Introducing ginger, chamomile, bananas, cumin, or legumes can remove the blockage of the solar plexus. Yoga poses like boat pose, side stretch, warrior pose(Virabhadrasana), and bow pose aid you in bringing balance to the chakra.

Meditation is considered the best way to bring balance to the solar plexus chakra. Practising meditation daily will cleanse the chakra and reduce social anxiety. When the seeker practices meditation, focusing on the solar plexus chakra, his confidence, self-esteem, and sense of self-worth increase. Beej (seed) mantra of solar plexus chakra is “Ram.” When one chants this beej mantra while focusing on the Manipura chakra, it removes the blockage of the chakra. Various other mantras can do this for you, but you should not chant them unless told by your Guru.  

Social anxiety is a mental disorder, and one should consult a physician and psychiatrist to diagnose and treat it. Spiritual ways mentioned above are to be practised along with the recommended treatment prescribed by your physician.  

Even though there is plenty of literature available on Chakra balancing, it is highly recommended that one learn these steps under the supervision of a Guru. Everyone has unique spirituality, personality, and experiences. One solution cannot fit all; therefore, it is imperative to seek guidance from spiritual experts to get that unique mantra and Chakra meditation method crafted exclusively for you. And hence, we recommend you practice these methods mentioned above under the guidance of an expert. 

We hope this blog helped you to understand the spiritual ways to deal with social anxiety.  

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