Tips for Choosing a Social Anxiety Forum to Join
If you’re looking to join a social anxiety forum, you should know that there are many popular options to choose from. That’s why it is important to consider what it is that you want to get out of a forum before making your choice.
Consider each of the possible reasons for joining a forum below, and whether they match what you are looking for. For each possible reason, I’ll also list the best matches for you in terms of a social anxiety forum.
And remember, you can always join more than one forum! This is just an exercise to help you get started and not feel so anxious about the whole process.
Meet People with Similar Problems
A common reason for joining a social anxiety forum is to talk to other people who are going through the same thing. I know in the forums that I’ve visited, it’s common to see pages and pages of replies to questions that start… “Have you ever…?”
The nice thing about a social anxiety forum is that there will be people at all different places in their journey, some of whom should be able to offer advice and insight. For this reason, look for a forum that seems to be supportive and quick to offer help. One way to check this is simply to see how recent the last posts were and how many replies they got.
If speed of replies is most important to you, the Social Anxiety Support forum is probably your best bet. It’s been around a long time and is very active.
Low-Key Connect with Others
Maybe chatting in real-time makes you anxious and you’re looking for a forum because you will be able to chat in an “asynchronous” way. Simply put, this means that you will be posting messages and replies at different times.
There will not be anyone “waiting” on you to reply. While some forums also have “chat” rooms where you can talk in real time, this is an extra feature.
Because of this, a social anxiety forum is less demanding of your time. You can pop in and out whenever the mood strikes.
Since you’ll be chatting in this asynchronous manner, it’s best to find a forum that makes you feel comfortable, both in terms of the members and the technology.
Find Information and Resources
Are you looking for more than just chats with strangers? If you want additional resources, a forum like the one offered by the Social Anxiety Insitute might be better for you.
It’s run by Dr. Thomas Richards, and the Institute also offers a self-help course for overcoming social anxiety and in-person therapy groups that you can attend in Phoenix, Arizona.
(On the other hand, while forums can be helpful, social media can actually worsen your social anxiety, as discussed in the TED talk below).
Go Off Topic
If you’d like to talk about world events, consider a forum like Social Phobia World. This forum includes a section with polls and hot topics for you to start chatting about things other than social anxiety.
Meet Other People From Your Local Area
If one of your goals is to eventually meet up locally with people from the forum, you’re best to choose a social anxiety forum that has members from your local area.
If you’re from the UK, you’re in luck! The SA-UK forum is for those living in the United Kingdom and is just one piece of the larger organization. This group can also direct you to self-help materials and therapy groups.
If you’re in the US or Canada, most likely the larger forums will have other members from your local area.
When you first sign up for a forum, check how many members it has. The more the better, if you want to eventually try to meet up in person.
Be Part of a Larger Forum Membership
If you want to talk about social anxiety, you’re best to sign up for a social anxiety forum: in other words, a forum that’s dedicated to just that topics.
However, if you want to have the option of branching off to other forums on other topics, consider joining a forum that is part of a larger group of forums. Often, you will find this in the case of mental health forums that include specific forums for each type of problem.
Examples of this would be the Social Phobia Forum at Psych Forums or the Social Anxiety Forum at Mental Health Forums.
Do you feel better equipped now to find a social anxiety forum that’s right for you? Once you do find a forum you like, be sure to read the etiquette rules. In order to keep things running smoothly, everyone needs to follow the rules and respect the moderators.
To sum up, if you are trying to choose a social anxiety forum, consider whether you want to discuss problems, connect in a low-key way, find resources, go off topic, meet local people, or join a larger forum organization. The answers to those questions should help make your decision easier.
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How to Find the Best Social Anxiety Forum for You
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