How do you manage communication anxiety?

[sdilley14]

For me, it's not that I'm not showing interest. It's more of a problem of "displaying" interest. Many like to know they have your undivided attention and/or expect a reply when none is nessecary.

Sometimes I would play into what people expect, but then I feel fake.

I can relate to that a little bit. More often than not, I don't truly "care" about what people are telling me, so I have a hard time mustering up a genuine reaction or response.

And I hate when I'm situations where people are saying things and you know they want some type of response or acknowledgment, but their comments really don't lend themselves to a natural or meaningful response. :/

 

[D.T.]

Many like to know they have your undivided attention [...]

That seems reasonable if they're having a conversation with you[?]

 

[mscriv]

Well, I've been managing my "anxiety" much better lately! I went out on a date Saturday and had no problem holding fun, engaging "small talk" for a good 2 hours. It was my second date with this girl so she wasn't a total stranger anyways. We're going out again this week.

Also, this week at work I've been doing "side by side" training with new hires. They sit at my work station and watch me work for a little while, I explain to them what I'm doing, then I sit back and watch them work and "coach"/critique, etc. It's actually been going really well! I think it's MUCH easier to feel comfortable and confident in your communication when you're speaking on a subject you actually know really well. I really struggle with the "fake it until you make it" type thing. But when it comes to communicating about things I actually know really well, I feel a good level of confidence.

Glad to hear you feel like things are improving. Keep on keeping on!

 

[Meister]

Don't do drugs to "take the edge off"! that is a horrific approach!