
Social anxiety can pose barriers to forming meaningful friendships and relationships. If you want to begin taking steps to feel more at ease with who you are in social situations, I invite you to explore these valuable resources available in Toronto that will support you on your journey.
You Are Not Alone
As you begin stepping out of your comfort zone as someone who struggles with social anxiety, remember that you are not alone. Toronto has a variety of supportive communities dedicated to helping individuals like you face social fears.
Finding relief from social anxiety often involves self-help, therapy, and—most importantly—experiencing positive social interactions with others. The latter is crucial as it helps us reshape our beliefs about ourselves and others. (To learn more, check out my blog post on quieting your inner critic)
Social Anxiety and Shyness Support Group
The Social Anxiety and Shyness Support Group meets every weekend in Toronto and provides a space for those with social anxiety to connect. This Meetup group allows you to meet others who understand the isolating nature of social anxiety, making it an ideal place to find validation and community.
Play with Fire Improv: Healing Through Play
Play with Fire Improv offers a unique way to connect and heal through improvisational comedy. Their improv classes help those dealing with anxiety embrace creativity, spontaneity, and connection in a safe, supportive environment. Improv encourages flexibility and reduces the rigid standards of "successful" social interactions that often accompany social anxiety
Social anxiety is often accompanied by perfectionistic and rigid internal standards about social interactions, and more specifically what makes for a “successful”or “unsuccessful” one. Improvisational comedy, with its emphasis on creativity, playfulness, and spontaneity, has shown to help those struggling with social anxiety to feel more comfortable in social situations and to be more equipped to cope with the uncertainty that accompanies social interactions.
Improv encourages flexibility and reduces the rigid standards of "successful" social interactions that often accompany social anxiety.
Research has shown that improv comedy can significantly reduce social anxiety, making it an excellent tool for those who struggle with perfectionism and social fears. You can read more about the research-backed benefits of improv in this Psychology Today article.
Therapy for Social Anxiety
If joining a Meetup or improv group feels too overwhelming right now, reaching out to a therapist can be the first step toward relief. Book a free 20-minute consultation today and let's work together to support your journey toward greater emotional well-being whether you are in Toronto, Alberta, or BC.
Warmly,
Hannah Peirce
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