First Psychology blog

Being shy can have a significant impact on your social and work life and can become a serious problem for many people. Shyness can lead to feeling alone and difficulty finding friends and can even result in missing out on job opportunities. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to overcome shyness and embrace your full potential. What causes shyness? In order to tackle shyness, you need to understand the cause. According to Steve Bressert PhD , shyness can begin at any age and can even occur in infancy. He also asserts that shyness isn’t a problem just for introverts. Extroverted people can also experience private shyness. Privately shy extroverts will portray a confident persona so much so that they appear confident in giving speeches, meeting new people and being overtly outgoing. Bressert states that there are many causes of shyness in those that are reluctant to socialise, which include: Physical changes in adolescence and societal reaction to these changes - especially in girl...

This time of year is popular for halloween parties, fireworks parties and, dare we say it, Christmas parties - yes they are not far away! And of course, parties mean social interactions. While many people look forward to a good knees up, those with social anxieties may experience feelings of dread as the party season approaches. What is social anxiety? Social anxiety is a particular type of anxiety that involves extreme shyness and feelings of anxiety specifically relating to social interactions. People with this type of anxiety typically feel self-conscious around others and may feel inferior or judged. Social anxiety is extremely common and may accompany other issues such as depression. Types of social anxiety Specific Social Phobia: While some people may struggle in a party environment, some sufferers of social anxiety are able to mix with people and socialise normally in most instances. However they may struggle with a particular aspect of social interaction, such as ...

It's that time of year when all the hard work of exams pays off and young people pack up their things and head off to university full of excitement about the future. Freshers week, the first week back when 'freshers' or new students are traditionally welcomed to the university, is usually full of social events. It is common for new students to feel excited at the thought of starting something new and meeting new friends. It is also usual to have general worries about fitting in, getting on with new people, whether you are good enough for your course, etc. Whenever we experience change in our lives, it is often a time when we also experience stress and anxiety. This is a normal part of life. However, some people also suffer from social anxiety issues and those people may experience dread at the mere thought of Freshers Week. Tips for dealing with social situations If you are feeling highly anxious about Freshers Week, here are some tips for dealing with social sit...

With January having been a prevalent time for relationships break-ups and Valentines day just around the corner, you may be feeling a bit lonely. At times like these we need good mates but with friends who make no effort and keep irregular contact, you may be feeling like you have none. Everyone feels like this at times, but if it is a recurring problem then perhaps you need to consider the reason for your lack of close reciprocal friendships. There could be many reasons for this. It may be circumstances are preventing friendship opportunities arising, or there may be other reasons such as shyness that are keeping you from finding like-minded people. Here are some common reasons for not making friends. Situational barriers  You have moved around a lot or live in a place where it is difficult to connect with people.  You may have be shunned if you have a mental or physical condition because of the stigma attached to your disability and may not be able to get out of the ho...

It cannot have escaped your attention that Valentine's Day (14 February) is looming ever closer! Valentine's day is when we traditionally exchange cards, gifts and romantic gestures with our intimate companions to tell them how we feel about them. For this reason, at this time of year, the shops are awash with hearts, flowers and chocolates. For more about Valentine's Day and the history and traditions surrounding it visit http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day Some people, of course, will not have an intimate companion, or may choose not to take part in Valentine's Day this year for their own reasons. Others, however, may lack the confidence,  dread meeting people, or feel socially anxious. It is not unusual to feel anxious when meeting new people, but when the levels of anxiety make meeting an intimate companion difficult, extreme shyness or social anxiety may be the cause. If this sounds like you, you will be pleased to hear there are things you c...