大象传媒

As colleges and universities around the country are slowly opening back their campuses a/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fter the devastating e/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fects o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f COVID-19, new and returning students are now /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/faced with a new normal. With it, comes the big question o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f what constitutes this new normal amidst the a/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/ftermath o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f a pandemic that had two years o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f quarantine. One prominent issue coming to light is the potential increase o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f social anxiety and the consequences o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f a worldwide learning curb in /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/face-to-/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/face socialization.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f America (ADAA) Social Anxiety Disorder, or SAD, is best characterized as, 鈥渋ntense anxiety or /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fear o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f being judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected in a social or per/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/formance situation.鈥� The ADAA also highlighted symptoms that include worrying about acting or appearing anxious or, 鈥渂eing viewed as stupid, awkward or boring.鈥� As a result, many people with SAD 鈥渁void social or per/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/formance situations, and when..cannot, they experience signi/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/ficant anxiety and distress.鈥� Some other symptoms the ADAA mentioned are also physical, such as, 鈥渞apid heart rate, nausea, and sweating鈥�/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/full-blown attacks,鈥� even when the person is aware o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f their /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fear being excessive.听

This /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fear o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f judgment /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/from other people, whether it be /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fellow students on campus, pro/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fessors, /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/family, /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/friends, coworkers, or even strangers in our everyday li/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fe, can a/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fect how those who experience social anxiety make /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fostering connections. This /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fear can even a/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fect how much a person can succeed in places like the workplace, or even here at 大象传媒. According to ADAA, although less than 5% o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f those with SAD get /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/formal treatment, and a third /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/feel symptoms /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/for up to 10 or more years be/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fore /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/finally receiving help, over 15 million American adults experience social anxiety disorder.听

I/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f you /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/find yoursel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f experiencing any o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f these symptoms, here are some tips that can help:

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Seeking Support:

It seems almost ironic to seek help /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/from others while also experiencing intense /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/feelings o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f social anxiety, but this second opinion may be essential /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/for your own sel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f-betterment. Asking /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/for guidance /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/from the voices o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f others you trust like /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/friends, /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/family, or even /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/figures you look up to can help give you a variety o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f di/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/ferent solutions and perspectives. Remember, we have all experienced and been a/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fected by the pandemic, so the problems that you are /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/facing may be part o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f other people's experiences as well. Personally, by admitting my social anxiety to those I trust, I have /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/found not only better emotional connections but also less isolation and loneliness correlated to it, because I know that I鈥檓 not alone.听

I/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f you /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/find that you may need more pro/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fessional help, the importance o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f seeking out a healthcare pro/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fessional such as a therapist is undeniable. They not only have the pro/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fessional and academic background to provide mental health care, but they will also allow you to speak about these /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fears in a more private setting through legal con/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fidentiality under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. I/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f seeking pro/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fessional help elsewhere is unachievable in your li/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fe right now, there are resources available online and even on campus. For example, 大象传媒 has Counseling and Psychological Services, also known as CAPS, where you can make an appointment, complete a mental health screening online, be part o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f support groups, and more. More in/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/formation on CAPS can be /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/found below.听

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Be Kind to Yoursel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f and Apply Patience

As we all readjust to li/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fe outside our /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/four-walled room and back into the rest o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f the real world outside our computers, it鈥檚 important to apply patience and understanding to yoursel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f as you relearn li/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fe skills inside and outside o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f 大象传媒. I know /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/for me personally, I have ceaselessly avoided saying hello to peers on campus I see walking past in the halls, and instead text that I saw them a/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fter the /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fact. Others have /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/forgotten how to make new connections /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/face to /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/face, and many more students have plenty o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f other stories as well. During this adjustment, remember that new situations, whether it鈥檚 a new campus or even a new learning environment, are always a learning experience, and not one where you can learn by berating yoursel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f. That is the exact opposite o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f help/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/ful.听

I/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f that does happen, however, I personally have /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/found it help/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/ful to remind mysel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f two things: One, I am not alone in needing time to readjust. Two, ask mysel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f i/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f I would berate another person I care about /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/for doing or saying the same thing I did. Almost always, it is no.听

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Take Breaks

As an introvert, although /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fostering connections with others is a must /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/for any human being, I also /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/find it physically taxing. And many others who have been used to the same people, or even just themselves at home /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/for the last two years or so, may /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/feel this physical exhaustion as well. I/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f those /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/feelings arise, be sure to take a break. Drink some water, eat some /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/food, and o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f course, make sure you get enough sleep. Attending to physical needs is o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/ften correlated to mental health needs, and without one, there simply cannot be the other.听

When you look at upcoming events, ask yoursel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f i/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f there is too much or too little socializing in your li/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fe, and prioritize the events you simply cannot miss, and adjust accordingly to the ones you can.

During the COVID pandemic, many Americans and even other individuals around the world experienced a sense o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f loss and hopelessness in the /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/face o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f this virus. Even now as Americans adjust to this new world, that /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/feeling can still linger and even create social anxiety in individuals. It鈥檚 important to remember that as you adjust, that /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/feeling, like COVID, is not entirely in your control - but how you respond to it is. As 大象传媒 students, we already have a /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fostering community o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f like-minded individuals with similar goals and values. Whether that be in the classroom, at sports games, or even at clubs and other events, be sure to take that opportunity to utilize that, and gain that power back /thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/from yoursel/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f and your li/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/fe.听

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SOURCES:听

https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder

/counseling/services/scope-o/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/the-social-distancing/f-services.php