Dr. Aziz describes how to beat social anxiety through a simple exposure exercise: start a conversation with a stranger, pause awkwardly on purpose, sit with it for a moment, then leave. The point is learning that awkwardness won't hurt you, which kills the fear that keeps you from talking to people.
When I had terrible social anxiety, I used to think this totally normal thing was dangerous and maybe even fatal. And when I discovered that it wasn't, it completely changed my social confidence and my entire life. What's that normal thing? It's awkward moments in conversations, especially when you don't know what to say next. And when I used to have that, I would be freaked out to the point where I wouldn't even approach people, I wouldn't talk to people, and I'd be constantly worried about what if I run out of things to say. Here's how you free yourself of that fear. Like all fears, you have to approach it. So the lesson is to go start a conversation with a stranger out in the world at a mall somewhere and say, hey, how's it going? What are you shopping for? They turn towards you and you just pause for a minute. You don't know what to say next. And then sit with that awkwardness for just a beat, maybe even embrace it a little bit, and then walk away. I know it's weird, but then what you'll realize, pat yourself down is, guess what? I didn't die. And you're going to realize that you can just let that fear go and approach anyone and it doesn't matter.
