Do you have social anxiety? This type of anxiety disorder often makes it difficult to be around other people. You may have paranoid thoughts that others are judging you, or feel too shy to speak up and let your voice be heard. Being in busy, crowded spaces may trigger panic or fear.
Many workplaces involve working closely with others, often in busy and crowded spaces. You may need to address coworkers or clients without showing fear or breaking down. How can you maintain high work performance when your social anxiety disorder creates so many challenges for you?
Board-certified anesthesiologist Dr. Bryant S. Edwards provides treatment for anxiety disorders, including social anxiety. He treats new and existing patients from his practice at Iconic Infusions, PLLC, located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Here are his tips for navigating your disorder at work, so that you can maintain both your professional performance and your mental stability.
Talk therapy approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) recommend using reframing to address symptoms of mental health conditions like social anxiety. Working with a therapist helps you master these techniques.
When social anxiety hits, it is often possible to reduce the impact of your symptoms by taking time to reframe. This resets your mentality and response to feeling triggered, keeping you on-task and focused.
For example, if an interaction with a coworker leaves you stressed, you may be able to reduce your stress by taking a minute to consider the facts of the encounter. You may find that the issues you were anxious about aren’t realistic or factually grounded, allowing you to successfully relax and self-soothe.
Many workplaces offer accommodations for diagnosed mental health disorders. By taking advantage of these accommodations, you can make professional life easier on your mental health, allowing you to shine at what you’re best at with less social stress.
For example, while open office plans allow for spontaneity and collaboration in the workplace, people with social anxiety often prefer to work in a more private location. You may potentially be able to benefit from accommodations in this way, consulting with your employer to find a workspace that actually works for you.
While it’s always helpful to check your mindset and find a workflow pattern that suits you, the best way for you to succeed at work may be to pursue anxiety treatment. With the right treatment and support, you can make larger strides in recovering from anxiety than you ever thought possible.
Dr. Edwards and the team at Iconic Infusions, PLLC, specialize in therapeutic ketamine infusion treatment. You may also benefit from talk therapy or other types of treatment for anxiety.
Delivered intravenously, safe doses of ketamine transform the interior of your brain, overwriting old scripts and mental habits with new neural pathways. The experience of ketamine treatment is dissociative. We provide positive sensory stimuli and other forms of pleasant support during your treatment, so that you can let go of old worries and move into new confidence.
Are you ready to meet the new you and find out how much you can accomplish at work once you’re not working around the restrictions and challenges of managing your social anxiety disorder? Schedule your initial consultation appointment at Iconic Infusions, PLLC online or over the phone today.
