How to Get A Job with Severe Social Anxiety

If you are someone dealing with social anxiety, you know that it can be difficult to work many traditional jobs due to the difficulty of regular social interactions. According to the American Psychological Association, 77% of American workers reported experiencing work-related stress within the last month. This high level of stress could be further worsened by your social anxiety.

For support, check out our blogs “Best Jobs For People with Social Anxiety Disorder” and “8 Best Jobs For People with Social Anxiety.”

Luckily, there are jobs out there well-suited for someone with social anxiety; however, what does the process look like when it comes to obtaining the desired job? How can you mentally prepare yourself for the hiring process? While some jobs may have limited social interaction with people, how can you learn to alleviate your anxiety symptoms in future social situations? To learn the answers to these questions, continue reading this blog!

Everything You Need To Know About Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

When you are mindful, you are aware of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. At the same time, you are also able to assess your environment, surroundings, and situations without automatic responses, such as passing judgment or increasing your stress levels.

In Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, also known as MBCT, a MBCT therapist incorporates mindfulness techniques into your counseling sessions.

Some mindfulness practices include:

Present Moment Awareness:
When you pay close attention to the sensations and perceptions you are feeling in your body, and clear the mind of any worries and judgements.
Meditation:
When you focus your mind on a particular object, thought, or occurrence to hone in attention and awareness so you can achieve a mentally and emotionally clear state. To learn more about meditation, check out our past blog “How Meditation Can Lead To Stress Reduction.”
Breathing Exercises:
Simple breathing exercises can help you reduce stress and make you less anxious. A common breathing exercise is the 4-7-8 method, also referred to as the relaxing breath since it helps tame your nervous system. To perform this breathing exercise, you close your mouth and inhale through your nose to a mental count of four. Then, you hold your breath for a count of seven. Finally, you exhale through your mouth for a count of eight.

MBCT teaches you how to be in the present moment. It also teaches you how to remove yourself from negative thought patterns that can cause a decline in your mood.