Tacoma Christian Counseling Logo

  • ServicesRead about the expertise available
    • Individual ServicesAddress your personal concerns confidentially
      • ADHD
      • Aging and Geriatric Issues
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety
      • Autism Spectrum Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Chemical Dependency
      • Counseling for Children
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Codependency
      • Depression
      • Eating Disorders
      • EMDR
      • Grief and Loss Counseling
      • Individual Counseling
      • Infidelity and Affairs
      • Lifespan Integration Therapy
      • Men’s Issues
      • OCD
      • Pornography Addiction
      • Personal Development
      • Psychological Testing
      • Relationship Issues
      • Sexual Abuse
      • Sexual Addiction
      • Spiritual Development
      • Trauma
      • Weight Loss
      • Women’s Issues
    • Christian Couples CounselingWork through challenges together
      • Couples Counseling
      • Premarital Counseling
      • Marriage Counseling
    • Family CounselingEstablish the peaceful home you desire
      • Couples Counseling
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Counseling for Children
      • Family Counseling
    • Group CounselingBenefit from the support of others
      • Men’s Sexual Addiction Recovery
        Group
      • All Counseling Groups
    • Online Counseling
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Sexual Addiction
    • Marriage Counseling
  • LocationsWe have offices at various locations
    • Bellevue Office FrontBellevue
    • Bothell Office Front EntranceBothell
    • Edmonds Christian CounselingEdmonds
    • Everett Office Front EntranceEverett
    • Federal Way 2Federal Way
    • HansvilleHansville
    •  1Kent
    • Kirkland Christian CounselingKirkland
    • Lacey 2Lacey
    • Mill Creek Office Waiting RoomMill Creek
    •  1Monroe
    • Oak Harbor OutsideOak Harbor
    • Poulsbo
    • Puyallup Christian CounselingPuyallup
    • Redmond OfficeRedmond
    • Seattle Downtown Christian CounselingSeattle Downtown
    • Seattle Greenlake 1Seattle Greenlake
    • Silverdale Office FrontSilverdale
    • Tacoma Office FrontTacoma
    •  1Vancouver
    •  1Online Counseling
  • CounselorsFind out more about our counselors
  • CareersJoin our team of Christian Counselors
  • (253) 777-1997Please give us a call, we are here to help
header-image

Tips for Overcoming Social Anxiety from a Christian Counselor

Tacoma Christian Counseling
https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/auto-draft-236.jpg 750 500
https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Mount-Rainier.jpg
https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Tacoma-Christian-Counseling-Logo-Fill-Stacked.jpg
621 Pacific Ave, Suite 302
TACOMA, WA 98402
United States
621 Pacific Ave, Suite 302
TACOMA, WA 98402
United States
Photo of Dr. Cristina Davis

Dr. Cristina Davis

Dec
2022
14

Tips for Overcoming Social Anxiety from a Christian Counselor

Dr. Cristina Davis

AnxietyIndividual CounselingRelationship Issues

Auto Draft 225How often do you dread an invitation to a social event? Do you find yourself feeling hyperalert and particularly sensitive to the possibility of others’ disapproval? Do you feel reluctant to engage in social situations because you may say or do something in front of others that may be perceived as foolish or judged harshly? If so, you may have social anxiety.

Social anxiety can be uncomfortable and very stressful. Some may experience increased anxiety in social situations, particularly situations where there is the potential threat of scrutiny. In these situations, a person may experience worrying thoughts, difficulty concentrating, increased heart rate, dry mouth, and/or sweating.

An individual with social anxiety may have difficulty asserting themselves, especially when met with any perceived resistance or may appear overly accommodating at times, but both may be to avoid the threat of potential confrontation, disapproval of others, or any other potential conflict that may arise in social situations.

Like us if you are enjoying this content.

The dos and donts of social anxiety.

Unfortunately, some individuals that experience social anxiety may engage in drinking alcohol or other forms of self-medication to cope. The tendency to use a substance to cope has a potential risk of developing a problematic pattern. Over time, a person may drink a greater amount or drink more frequently to manage their stress.

Initially, this may feel helpful as it can lower a person’s inhibitions and increase their propensity for engagement with others. For instance, a person with social anxiety may dread attending a social event and to cope with the stress, they may drink alcohol to prepare for social interaction and the anxiety provoked by the event.

However, this can become problematic if one becomes dependent on a substance as the only coping option used and a person finds it increasingly difficult to face social situations without first drinking or using another substance.

Although social anxiety can be very uncomfortable, if one continuously puts themselves in social situations, the anxiety will decrease in intensity. This method can be done strategically so that the anxiety prompted by social events and social interactions can be experienced in slightly greater amounts.

Auto Draft 226The individual may feel as though they are better able to tolerate and effectively manage the uncomfortable symptoms experienced. Every success will contribute to greater momentum and less anxiety, over time.

A simple approach to your social anxiety is slowly putting yourself in social situations that prompt your anxiety. Begin by thinking of your personal goal. Maybe you want to attend a social event and appear confident when meeting new people.

First, describe to yourself how you might appear confident. Perhaps this means that you will maintain frequent eye contact, speak clearly, initiate contact with someone while there, and as a result, make a friend. Now, think of three different steps you can take to work toward your final goal.

For instance, you could start by meeting with someone for a coffee date at a local coffee shop, perhaps during a time of day that tends to be less busy. After you have accomplished this a few times, consider joining a Bible study or another small group of some sort.

The gradual increase in the number of people that an individual will have the likelihood of interacting with as well as help the individual slowly learn to tolerate being around more people at one time. As you successfully tolerate larger groups of people, attending social events will become more manageable and manage the anxiety-related symptoms prompted by social events.

Find a therapist that can help you develop a more skillful approach to managing your social anxiety symptoms. A therapist can help by holding you accountable for doing the things that will initially feel uncomfortable, but you will be grateful as you make progress because you will be better able to tolerate the things you once avoided.

You will be able to live a more meaningful life without or with much less interference from the anxiety that once created a barrier to you developing relationships with others. In addition, a therapist may be a helpful resource if you need a referral to meet with a psychiatrist as the therapist may be familiar with one in your local community.

Take care of yourself.

When you are not deliberately putting yourself in social situations that you know are going to be stressful, make sure you are taking care of yourself. Deliberately putting yourself in challenging situations will require more of your energy as these experiences can be emotionally taxing. Therefore, be sure to take care of yourself and practice self-care.

Auto Draft 227For instance, how has your sleep been lately? How many hours of sleep are you getting throughout the night? Do you have any difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep? If so, consider talking with your therapist about a better sleep hygiene routine as this is going to be very important for you to tolerate the stress of engaging with increasingly bigger groups of people.

Another important area to make sure you are paying attention to is your eating habits. A well-rounded diet will help you to have the right amount of energy to attempt these increasingly difficult and demanding social situations. Notice if you have observed any changes in your diet lately (especially before, after, or during especially stressful situations).

Have you noticed an increase or a decrease in your food intake? Is it difficult for you to eat leading up to a social situation because your stomach feels like it is in knots? Do you notice that you tend to “snack” more frequently leading up to a social situation that you know will be stressful?

These pieces of information are helpful and important that you take note of to address with your therapist and medical physician as there are ways to manage the physical symptoms of anxiety that may be contributing to the changes you may have observed in your appetite.

Another important area to make sure you are addressing is your activity level. How often do you go outside? How often do you get some exercise? What are some changes you have observed in your activity level, particularly when you feel distressed related to social situations?

What are some ways you can increase your daily activity? This is another important area to discuss with your therapist and medical physician as exercise may help manage your stress level and may have other additional health benefits as well.

Another important area to consider is how you manage your stress level in your day-to-day life. What sorts of activities or hobbies do you do in your free time? Do you spend a lot of your downtime scrolling mindlessly on social media and/or your phone? What are some proactive steps you can take to improve the quality of your self-care routine?

Auto Draft 228For instance, winding down with a soak in the tub with essential oils and a deep conditioning treatment on your hair may be something that helps you to de-stress. Maybe you prefer to go on a walk or a hike. Perhaps you enjoy cooking or baking. Whatever your preference, make good use of your time by being intentional and purposeful about doing activities that help replenish you.

Another paramount consideration is your faith life. How much time throughout the week do you spend in worship, prayer, and reading your Bible? Is this an area of your life that you need to re-prioritize? How much do you feel your heart is aligned with God’s heart, according to His word?

Make time to sit down, worship, pray, and read the Bible without distraction. Consider turning your phone off or silencing it and intentionally wait for and engage Him. The goal of this is quality time, as would be encouraged and expected in any relationship.

Summary.

Social anxiety can be difficult to manage, but it can be managed. Sweating, stomachaches, worried thoughts, muscle tension, and difficulty concentrating in addition to other symptoms may be experienced. Therefore, seek the help of a therapist and contact your medical provider about options for managing your social anxiety.

Consider any changes you may have noticed to your sleep, diet, exercise, and stress level, and make sure to address these with your therapist and medical provider. Consider what methods of coping have been particularly helpful, and areas in your life that may need to be re-prioritized including your self-care routine and the time you spend with God.

Avoid coping strategies that may bring about immediate relief but may lead to dependence or greater difficulty facing social situations without the use of them. Most importantly, be good to yourself because you are human so you will need adequate ways of replenishing yourself and you can do hard things and can overcome challenges brought on by social anxiety.

Photos:
“Anxious:, Courtesy of Alexander Krivitskiy, Unsplash.com, CC0 License; “Party Girls”, Courtesy of Michael Discenza, Unsplash.com, CC0 License; “I always wake before her”, Courtesy of Gregory Pappas, Unsplash.com, CC0 License; “Reading Proverbs”, Courtesy of Joel Muniz, Unsplash.com, CC0 License

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please contact one of our counselors for further information.

  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet it
  • ↑ Back to top
Photo of Dr. Cristina Davis
Schedule with Cristina
  • Appointment Info

  • Your Info

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Dr. Cristina Davis

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate
(206) 558-2238 cristinad@seattlechristiancounseling.com

I offer counseling for children, teens, couples, and families facing a wide variety of issues. Where you are and how you feel right now is understandable, but you don’t have to stay in this place forever. I want to help you get to where you want to be. Working collaboratively together, focused solely on you, I will encourage you and push you to accomplish the goals you set for yourself. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, abandonment, grief, chemical dependency, or other concerns, it would be my honor to work with you to find lasting solutions with God’s help. Read more articles by Dr. Cristina »

Other articles that might interest you...

Christian Character Defined: A Christian Counselor Speaks 2
Tacoma Christian Counseling

Christian Character Defined: A ...

Character can be defined as a collection of personality traits within our behavior that shows who we are. This is...

continue reading »
Overcoming Social Anxiety: A Christian Counselor’s Magic Bullet
Photo of Barney Armstrong

Barney Armstrong

Overcoming Social Anxiety: A Christian ...

Part 1 in a 2 Part Series What Do You Want? If you have ever thought of yourself as having...

continue reading »
Bible Verses for Overcoming Social Anxiety 3
Photo of Joshua Adams

Joshua Adams

Bible Verses for Overcoming Social ...

Do you need help overcoming social anxiety? Anxiety in its different forms is one of the biggest mental health problems...

continue reading »

About Dr. Cristina

Photo of Dr. Cristina Davis

Dr. Cristina Davis, Psy.D., MA, LMHCA

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate

I offer counseling for children, teens, couples, and families facing a wide variety of issues. Where you are and how you feel right now is understandable, but you don’t have to stay in this place forever. I want to help you get to where you want to be. Working collaboratively together, focused solely on you, I will encourage you and push you to accomplish the goals you set for yourself. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, abandonment, grief, chemical dependency, or other concerns, it would be my honor to work with you to find lasting solutions with God’s help. View Dr. Cristina's Profile

Recent articles by Dr. Cristina

  • Feb 9 · Anxiety in Teens: How to Help
  • Jul 20 · Gaslighting in Relationships: Tips from a Christian Counselor
  • Mar 28 · Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Recognizing the Signs in Children
See all articles by Dr. Cristina »

Related Services

  • Anxiety
  • Individual Counseling
  • Relationship Issues

Dr. Cristina's Office Locations

  • Photo of the Federal Way office

    Federal Way

    Washington

    General Office Number

    (206) 452-6728
    33710 9th Ave S,, Suite 15 Federal Way, WA 98003

    View Office Details
  • Photo of the Online (WA only) office

    Online (WA only)

    General Office Number

    (206) 388-3929
    ,  

    View Office Details
Tacoma Christian Counseling Logo
Tacoma Christian Counseling
Professional help with faith-based values
We are an association of professional, independently licensed Christian counselors experienced in helping people of all ages find healing for a wide variety of issues.
© 2025 Tacoma Christian Counseling. All rights reserved.
621 Pacific Ave,, Tacoma, WA 98402. Tel (253) 777-1997.
Facebook Twitter Online Counseling About Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Feel free to contact us!
We are open for business. In person and online counseling are available now.