Can Enlightenment Work Cure Social Anxiety?

[TDW1995]

At it's very root, social anxiety exists because we try to "be" a certain way, or uphold a specific self-image in front of people.  What most people think when it comes to overcoming social anxiety, is that we have to use will power, effort, and "put our self out there." Although this may be helpful advice, I don't think it addresses this issue at the core, and because of this, it may not free someone from their anxiety.

Because I have a background of social anxiety, and still lingers now and then, I often wonder if self-inquiry, strong determination sitting, and other meditative practices/enlightenment work I've been doing can help with the problem of social anxiety. After all, the more we challenge our ego/self-image, over time we should be less identified with social survival.  Is this an accurate assumption, or should I be taking other routes to get over any social anxiety that remains?

[VeganAwake]

You might think this answer is a little strange. It's yes and no...

Nervous and anxious feelings can still arise but they are not owned by anyone. There is still a conditioned human body that will react according to its conditioning. But these feelings that arise are not taken personal anymore, they're just what's happening.

So basically if you get caught up in the story that its ME with these nervous and anxious feelings, there will be suffering.

If Liberation or Enlightenment has occurred, there is no longer a ME to get tangled or caught up in the story...  the personalization is no longer a part of the picture. 

You don't get lost or caught up in the story any longer. 

So simply put:

If you are identified as the body/mind suffering can occur.

If you are not the feelings are almost negligible.

 

 

 

 

[TDW1995]

@VeganAwake Appreciate the response. What you said makes sense. In the meantime, on top of the enlightenment work I've been doing, maybe I should find other ways to address whatever remains with the social anxiety issue.

[VeganAwake]

Yeah no problem at all I have social anxiety also.

I don't think there's any real exact answer with this one... some people Force themselves to do public speaking and to be more social in general... using A build-up approach.

I have found what works best for me is not thinking about it or identifying with it at all. It's the emotions come up they come up if not they don't... just simply don't claim them.

Just ideas of course ?

[Pramit]

It really depends on the severity of social anxiety and you. It might temporarily alleviate the symptoms, but it'll come back when you are least expecting it. So be careful haha.

To those who suffer from social anxiety (clinically diagnosed) or social phobia, go a psychiatrist or a psychologist and get help through cognitive behavioral therapy or medication. Don't linger here and ask strangers who have no idea about the seriousness of the condition

[Aaron p]

Hidden serious causes of anxiety;

- using phones, laptops, tvs, social media repetitively/consistently (huge one)

- drugs (weed is very bad for this i find, not necessarily psychedelics...i needed to come off weed to be able to handle trips)

- not socialising enough. 

 

the screens and social media one is a very strong one. Something that ive seen to help anxiety (and depression) is getting involved with a *group* (specifically a group or community) of people who you share something in common with. You can do this by going and making friends or you can look up online "meetup groups near me" or "interest groups near me". Also ive noticed in particular that communities or groups who share *fitness* really help mental health...like football. But even more in particular, groups of people who are small communities of *runners*. as in, running out on the street in groups. for some reason people who belong to a group/community of people who are runners have dramatically improved mental health. this could be something to consider...it will be something that i'll be considering in the future.

[Javfly33]

@TDW1995 Consciousness practices won't make your social anxiety disappear because of lack of identification with social survival but because of lack of identification with your ego/identity.

 

It's very difficult that somebody will become so consciouss that he wont be concerned with social survival, because those are deeply rooted survival mechanisms. However the identity you identify yourself with ("I'm TDW1995 and I have social anxiety because bla bla bla") that's the thing you have to be "concerned about".

And of course, as you have said, "address the issue at it's core". Psychedelics can help very good with this. Although of course, they are not for everybody and must be taken with proper caution and respect. I would advice you to take an holistic approach: Hear a psychologist, read books, try the "put your self out there"..etc and see if you can see a pattern so you can start investigating clearly what you are not seeing yet.

[kag101]

No, don't fool yourself.

[Nahm]

9 hours ago, TDW1995 said:

I don't think it addresses this issue at the core, and because of this, it may not free someone from their anxiety.

Could not agree more. Look for a belief prior to the beginning of your op. 

[purerogue]

If you have completely lost control no, if you abide somewhere in middle of this awareness then yes, as you are not that tangled with habits, and you have power to ignore habits that try to emerge because you are not identified with them. 

Edited February 27, 2020 by purerogue

[Preety_India]

The simple answer is no. 

 

The only answer is strategies, medications and therapy. 

 

[Leo Gura]

If you truly, fully awake, then yes. But that's so challenging and rare that you are better off working directly on your social anxiety.

True and full awakening has the potential to cure everything. But are you willing to full awaken? Do you dare?

[allislove]

@Leo Gura is there "full awaken" at all? You can always be more awaken, or?

[Leo Gura]

19 minutes ago, dimitri said:

@Leo Gura is there "full awaken" at all? You can always be more awaken, or?

There are many degrees of it, for sure.

But I've also experienced what I would call a "full awakening". I think extremely few people have experienced it. Most gurus, teachers, and masters have not. I don't know any teacher who I consider fully awake.

[BETGR164128]

@TDW1995 I get the feeling that all people are socially anxious. I think if you believe in others and that you're seperate there will always be anxiety. So don't be so hard on yourself, I'm hoping that enlightenment will not cure anxiety, but show me that it never existed in the first place 

[Skin-encapsulatedego]

2 hours ago, Leo Gura said:

There are many degrees of it, for sure.

But I've also experienced what I would call a "full awakening". I think extremely few people have experienced it. Most gurus, teachers, and masters have not. I don't know any teacher who I consider fully awake.

@Leo Gura What does “full awakening” entail as opposed to the minor degrees of awakening?

Edited February 27, 2020 by Skin-encapsulatedego

[Endangered-EGO]

@TDW1995 Have you already had small awakenings? If yes, then social anxiety is the first ego backlash the result of the lower self not willing to see the self in other people. It was for me, after the lower self won the dark night of the soul.

[Nahm]

@TDW1995 You thinking God has social anxiety.

[TDW1995]

@Leo Gura Working directly on my lack of social confidence seems like the way to go. It's almost like I've been using enlightenment work as an excuse to not actually go out and interact with people because I believed it would eventually cure my anxiety since I'll slowly be disidentifying with thoughts and the self-image. I'll have to bite the bullet on this one. 

@Endangered-EGO No small awakenings yet. I've been meditating for 4.5 years, but have gotten really serious with self-inquiry and enlightenment work since last November.

[LfcCharlie4]

@Leo Gura was this full awakening during a trip, and how has it effected Day-To-Day life?