People with social anxiety who perform good deeds may have less trouble relaxing and interacting with others, new research finds.
These acts of kindness can boost feelings of happiness and foster positive views of the world. Over time, deeds that promote positive interactions may enable people with this disorder to socialize more easily, the Canadian researchers said.
"Acts of kindness may help to counter negative social expectations by promoting more positive perceptions and expectations of a person's social environment," study co-author Jennifer Trew, of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada, said in a journal news release. "It helps to reduce their levels of social anxiety and, in turn, makes them less likely to want to avoid social situations."
Social anxiety disorder causes people to feel threatened or anxious about mingling with others. It's more than just being shy. The disorder may make people feel so uncomfortable that they avoid socializing entirely to avoid angst or the possible embarrassment.
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