{"id":275,"date":"2008-12-23T09:57:06","date_gmt":"2008-12-23T09:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/ourladyofweightloss\/2008\/12\/do-you-suffer-from-social-anxi.html"},"modified":"2008-12-23T09:57:06","modified_gmt":"2008-12-23T09:57:06","slug":"do-you-suffer-from-social-anxi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/ourladyofweightloss\/2008\/12\/do-you-suffer-from-social-anxi.html","title":{"rendered":"Do YOU Suffer from Social Anxiety?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I received an email from a member of the Kick in the Tush Club<\/a>, who greatly suffers when at social functions. Parties and gatherings bring forth extreme feelings of discomfort. In order to feel better, she eats. And sometimes she eats some more.
\nI thought I would share her letter here, because I know she’s not alone. Many of us are uncomfortable in these types of situations. Many suffer from social anxiety<\/a>. What advice do you have for “N?”
\nDear Janice ~ I, too, am seeking permanent thinness. I do fine at home, at work, at restaurants, at night, in the car. It’s the social events that drive me out of “won’t power” to bunches of this and that, usually chocolate thises and thats.
\nNo one does this to me; no pushy offers. It’s me and a party that is a lethal combination. I don’t like parties; but I do like sugar in most any form. The only person I need to say no to is me, so it’s the “won’t power” vs. piles of cookies and sitting around. I’ve found myself washing the hostess’s dishes so I don’t have my hands in the candy bowl. Do I need to wear elbow-length white gloves so picking up chocolate would be disgusting?
\nSuggestions are welcome. Best, N.
\nDear N. ~ I do like the visual of the elbow-length white gloves! It’s almost as ‘bad’ as me duct-taping my mouth closed<\/a> when cooking!!
\nAll kidding aside, it sounds like you are extremely uncomfortable in social settings that require schmoozing and mixing it up people you may or may not know. You’re not alone. Many people have difficulties in social settings.
\nNow, I could give you the basic advice that you may have heard before.<\/p>\n