Re: Struggling With Anxiety...
Hi there, I hope this helps, this is what I have been doing.
There are Two ways you can go into a situation, in this case the situation will be talking to people as you stated.
The first way you can go into this situation is being in the 'negative'. Being nervous, anxious and closed. This way of being is 'reactive' and based in fear of the unknown.
The second way you can go into the same situation is being in the 'positive'. Being 'open' and confident :) This way of being is not reactive at all because you are consciously 'being' open and confident. You can not 'think' being 'open' though. You can only say to your self in your head 'be open' and then actually 'become open', be what it feels like to be open, dont think about it, feel it. Then when you notice that you are starting to react in a negative way again(nervous, anxious and closed) say to yourself 'be open' and then actually feel being open again :) Do this over and over again as much as you can.
You might find yourself being closed, nervous, and anxious to many different situations throughout your day, as I have. All you have to do is keep on reminding yourself to 'be open' and then 'become open' :) The more you 'become open' the easier it becomes to stay that way. Like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it becomes. It just takes alot of practice and conscious effort. Being self-conscious in the 'positive' is actually a great thing to be :)
Watch how your life will change. You might even notice that you have become so 'open' that you forget to be afraid :) Being confident is not a concern because when you are 'open', confidence happens naturally as a byproduct :)
Be open to the 'good' and the 'bad', its all the same thing.
Its perfectly ok to be nervous and self-conscious though, or to be in what ever mood you might be in :) But if you wish to change then try what I have said here. Dont care what other people think. Just be yourself. Be anyone you want to be :)
Also, if you dont care what other people think then it doesnt matter if you are nervous and self-conscious talking to people, because you dont care anymore. And because you dont care anymore you are not nervous and self-conscious to begin with :) See how its a viscious cycle? I hope that made sense :D
This has been my experience, I hope it helps. Thank you for asking this question, im sure many of us here are struggling with the same issues, including myself :)
Recommended reading material: 'The Power of Now' by Eckhart tolle and 'The Life You Were Born To Live' by Dan Millman.
Ciao