Social anxiety is one of the most commonly experienced forms of anxiety – walking into a party, attending a function, making a speech, the feeling of exposure and embarrassment that often comes hand in hand with social anxiety, can affect even the most confident of people.
- Take some exercise – not only will it help you look your best on the day, it will alleviate pent-up stress too
- Get a good night’s rest – prepare for a restful night with a warm bath, some calming music and a good book
- Remember to eat – when we’re feeling nervous or anxious our appetite can dwindle. Being hungry will only make you feel more dizzy or faint
- Choose good foods – ditch the chocolate and quick fix treats. The energy sugar spikes and subsequent crash will hinder anxious feelings. Choose fresh, unprocessed snacks instead
- Ditch caffeine – this is anxiety’s nemesis and will only exacerbate feelings of worry
- Drink plenty of water – keep well hydrated, it will help keep you calm and focused and also stave off an anxious dry mouth
- Plan ahead – avoid any sudden anxiety creeping up on you with last minute plans. The more you know in advance, the calmer and more prepared you’ll feel
- Familiarise yourself with the venue – make use of a rehearsal or practice session. Go and have a walk around the venue ahead of time and familiarise yourself with the surroundings to feel more settled on the day
- Breathe – practice deep breathing to aid relaxation and ease off anxious feelings
- Smile and enjoy – the best way to ward off anxiety is to trick it. It’s much harder to feel really anxious if you plaster a big smile over your face. Keep your head up, take a deep breath and just go for it. It will be over before you know it so tries and just enjoys the moment