Usually when someone feels uncomfortable or awkward in social situations is when It’s considered Social Insecurity. In many cases this cases awkwardness in all kinds of different social situations. This is also the cause of people feeling self conscious and having feelings of inadequacy.
How does this relate to your physical health? Well, if someone doesn’t feel comfortable in social situations, then it is VERY unlikely that they will want to participate in physical activities such as exercise. In most cases exercising is done in a social environment such as a health club, gym or if exercising outdoors maybe park. Because of this most people facing this challenge are A LOT less likely to exercise.
In my opinion, this is one of the main causes of the obesity epidemic in America. I have worked in the Health and Fitness Industry for 12 years and 10 of those years were spent inside the four walls of a health club or gym working directly with people that were faced with this awful dilemma. I can’t count the number of people that I worked with who have admitted this as being the main reason they have not done anything to improve there health. What about all of the people who wouldn’t admit it. How about all the people who never even stepped foot through the door to seek assistance? The number of people faced with this is likely STUNNING at worst.
So, what’s my point in all this? If this is you, then you need to take action and fight this problem. Your health is the most important thing that you’ve got. You must break free from these fears so that you can live the life you deserve! One way to do this is to be around people all the time. I know that it sounds crazy, but face the problem head on! This is one of the best ways of overcoming your fears! Go to the mall, visit your friends all the time, go to the park and talk to people, go to the movies or parties! You have to force yourself to interact with others no matter how terrible it may feel at the time.
Since I’ve recognized this problem within our society I’ve done a little research and talked with some psychologists about it to determine what people can do to overcome this. In many cases it can be overcome by continuing to put yourself in social situations. By repeating these things over and over in many cases it will eventually get better. For some people, it’s a much deeper challenge to overcome.
If you try these things and you find that it’s not getting better, then you should seek the help of a therapist or a psychologist. This is nothing to be ashamed of. We all face challenges in our lives and need help working through them sometimes! It’s only as big of a deal as you make it out to be. Your health is way too precious to let this little challenge hold you back from living an extraordinary healthy life that you deserve! You must take immediate action to overcome this, otherwise your total mental and physical health will continue to deteriorate!
The absolute worst thing that you can do is to ignore this challenge! You can’t afford to ignore it. We as human beings are meant to be social. Once you recognize this and start to overcome it, you will notice that you are going to feel a lot happier overall!
It’s up to you. Nobody can make this decision for you. You have to take immediate action. Get out there and talk to some people, join a gym and talk to a therapist if you have to! Do it for yourself, your family and the people that you love in your life who may depend on you for any reason. The world needs you. GO!
Written by Pat King - Visit Website
That’s an interesting way to look at it. I was under the impression that the number of people plagued by obesity in a society depends on the society’s acceptance of them. It has become a taboo to chid anyone because of their obesity thus removing a huge incentive to be fitter. Though I recognize obesity is a result of certain medical conditions in some instances, most are in fact due to lifestyle choices.
Correct you are my friend. Everything in life is a choice and those faced with this dilemma are certainly allowing it to keep them from living and at the end of the day, it’s up to them to make a choice to do something about it.
This is a great piece, different perspective but completely true. Its not only your mind that becomes stagnant, it is your body as well. Stagnation does breeds disease
I wonder, though, if social insecurity is a part of a larger mental issue such as depression. Many people who feel depressed also feel uncomfortable in public and wish to avoid beng around others. They also are less likely to exercise and eat right.
Very well written. You are absolutely right. With exercise and fitness its a mind game. Control your mind and your body will follow.
True. Social anxiety leads to nervous eating (especially in my case). Nervous eating leads to being overweight. Being overweight makes you a target for the mean kids on the playground, which increases your social anxiety.
I say force-feed the mean kids twinkies until their pancreas goes into shock.
Sure you might get in trouble, but you will feel much better about yourself.
Good post, by the way.
Clarence Bass said it best with his book, “Challenge Yourself.” Of course, with 2% body fat for most of his adult life I don’t think he was faced with the above dilemma. But the idea is to force yourself to do what you know going to be best for you. Rest assured, it will become second nature (just like taking a shower in PE class the first time.)
Changing anything starts with the mind. It’s all about reconditioning the way you think and how your mind sees things.
One of my favorite things that I’ve ever heard is
“your mind is the greatest soap opera script writer in the world”
Hmm you right.. Sometime, we need to open our mind. Social with others is important to us as a human. It can release our stress and sometime can make you happy! To avoid the insecurity is not to pull out yourself from the society but you need to work with the society so that we can keep our surrounding safe! By the way, it is really good post.
You have great writing skill; the way you have justified and linked social insecurity to health deterioration is truly fantastic.