6 Expert-Approved Tips For Dating With Anxiety

When you suffer from an anxiety disorder, getting through a date can seem near impossible.  It may help to know you’re not alone. An estimated 18 percent of all American adults suffer from an anxiety disorder of some kind, ranging from social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder and general anxiety. There’s a good chance you’ve gone on a date with someone who’s had a panic attack over the thought of dinner and a movie.  There are ways to cope with anxiety, though, and meet someone worthwhile. Below, experts on anxiety share their best advice for managing your worries and stress so you can successfully get through a date.  One technique that is well-known in anxiety treatment is the idea of exposure: The more you deal with things that stress you out, the better equipped you are to handle them. If dating feels particularly nerve-racking, start slow by putting yourself in situations where you can practice small talk, said Keith Humphreys, a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University.  “Go to any social event ― a dance, a church picnic or a hangout after work ― and set a goal of talking to a stranger who seems interesting for at least 10 minutes, without the pressure to ask anyone out,” he told The Huffington Post. “Taking the scary thing ― a real date ― off the table will give you security to practice your dating and conversation...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news