People who know me are often surprised when I tell them that I struggle with social anxiety. I always hear things like “but you’re so extraverted!” “you seem so bubbly and happy” and “aren’t you a performer? How can you be anxious in front of people?” The truth is that yes, I am all of those things. But I’m also, more often than not, very anxious in social situations.

Social anxiety comes in all shapes and sizes – my own personal flavour includes insecurity, self-doubt, imposter syndrome and a fear that no one likes me. There’s absolutely no real basis behind these feelings; it’s simply a matter of intrusive thoughts.

Maybe you, like me, feel nervous and panicky when you have a party or social engagement. If that’s the case, here are some methods that I use to help me overcome my social anxiety and work on improving my mental health:

• Remind yourself that these are just thoughts – It begins with recognising when your brain is running amuck. For example, if I st art to think “everyone here is just putting up with you”, I can recognise that that’s just my social anxiety talking. I like to mentally take a step back at that point.

• Don’t focus on being perfect – No one is! We all mess up in social situations, so try to go easier on yourself.

• Practice assertiveness – Even if you need to do this in front of a mirror. Practice being comfortable with letting people know how you feel (“I feel” statements), voicing opinions and talking about things that interest you.

• Have a system in place for when you get overwhelmed – Whether it’s going somewhere quiet and doing some deep breathing, listening to music or stretching

• Look after your mental health in general – For me, this includes daily mindfulness meditations (the Headspace App is my favourite), breathing exercises and going for walks in nature. Find what works best for you.

Remember, these are just methods that work for me! If you’re really struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out and get professional help.