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Avoiding social situations can feel like relief…but over time, it can actually make anxiety worse.
Your brain is constantly asking one question in social situations: “Do I have what it takes to handle this?” If the answer feels like “no,” you go into a threat response—anxiety, self-doubt, overthinking, exhaustion. But if you can shift how your brain sees the situation…everything changes.
In this episode, I share 3 ways to do that:
• Look for connections
• Reduce the unknown
• Accept yourself kindly
These small shifts can move you from avoid → approach.
⏱️ Timestamps
01:13 – Why humans need social connection (even introverts)
03:15 – The “glasses” metaphor: how perception shapes social stress
05:03 – What a threat response looks like in social situations
07:02 – What a challenge response looks like in social situations
10:17 – Strategy #1: Look for connections
14:33 – Strategy #2: Reduce the unknown
18:33 – Strategy #3: Accept yourself kindly
21:49 – Final thoughts: experimenting with your “glasses”
For full show notes, including resources mentioned, go to: https://www.calmyourcaveman.com/episodes/3-ways-to-feel-less-anxious-around-people
Send us Fan Mail
🌐 https://www.calmyourcaveman.com
By Dr. Adriana Jarvis TwitchellAvoiding social situations can feel like relief…but over time, it can actually make anxiety worse.
Your brain is constantly asking one question in social situations: “Do I have what it takes to handle this?” If the answer feels like “no,” you go into a threat response—anxiety, self-doubt, overthinking, exhaustion. But if you can shift how your brain sees the situation…everything changes.
In this episode, I share 3 ways to do that:
• Look for connections
• Reduce the unknown
• Accept yourself kindly
These small shifts can move you from avoid → approach.
⏱️ Timestamps
01:13 – Why humans need social connection (even introverts)
03:15 – The “glasses” metaphor: how perception shapes social stress
05:03 – What a threat response looks like in social situations
07:02 – What a challenge response looks like in social situations
10:17 – Strategy #1: Look for connections
14:33 – Strategy #2: Reduce the unknown
18:33 – Strategy #3: Accept yourself kindly
21:49 – Final thoughts: experimenting with your “glasses”
For full show notes, including resources mentioned, go to: https://www.calmyourcaveman.com/episodes/3-ways-to-feel-less-anxious-around-people
Send us Fan Mail
🌐 https://www.calmyourcaveman.com