How Do You Make Friends if You Have Social Anxiety? | Kati Morton?

Making friends can feel like playing hide-and-seek when you have social anxiety, but it doesn’t have to be scary.

Imagine you’re in a park full of kids running around, and you want to join them, but your heart starts pounding, like it’s trying to jump out of your chest. That's what happens when you have social anxiety, it feels like everyone can see how nervous you are.

Sometimes, it helps to start small, like choosing just one person to play with. It’s like picking the easiest puzzle piece first instead of trying to solve the whole puzzle at once. Maybe you sit next to someone in class or say “hi” to a friend on the playground. That's all, no pressure!

The more you try, the easier it gets. It’s like learning how to ride a bike: you wobble a little at first, but soon you’re zooming around. You can even practice by pretending you're talking to a toy or a pet, they don’t judge you!

With time and patience, making friends becomes more fun than it feels now.