How To Articles

Medically Reviewed By: Aaron Horn, LMFT, MA

Here we have some insightful articles to help you get started. After all, learning is power. You can learn a lot about each of these subjects by clicking below. 

Talking To People With Social Anxiety

It can be difficult for you to deal with social anxiety when you want to meet new people. Seeking the help of a therapist is a good way to get over your phobia. They can teach you calming techniques, deep breathing, and even help you decide which thoughts are accurate and which ones are distorted.  

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Building Confidence

Being confident can help you get a job, a relationship, or just make you feel better about yourself. Some people have low confidence because of issues in their past. A therapist may be able to help with that. However, if you want to build confidence, it’s important to first understand what you “bring” to this world.

Communicate Better 

Some people are born talkers, but others may be more socially awkward. Miscommunications and awkward conversations happen all the time. It is possible to learn to communicate better. You can learn these techniques by talking to a therapist and identifying your mistakes. Practicing body language, speech, and making sure you have a good tone online can help as well. We can offer some wonderful information about how to communicate successfully. They can be incredibly helpful in social situations. Communication is the basis of all human interaction, so it’s important to know how to do it correctly. 

Stop Overthinking

We all tend to overthink things. Looking critically at a situation is good, but sometimes overthinking it can stall you. This is something that cognitive behavioral therapy or mindfulness may be able to fix. It can take your worries and put them in perspective so you can move past them. 

Overthinking can be stressful to deal with, but by learning how to slow your racing thoughts down you can quell anxiety, and feel better about yourself. 

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Dealing With Guilt

If you feel guilty about something, you need to think about why. Why do you feel guilty? Is it something you actually did, or do you have second-hand guilt? 

If you did do something, and have tried to make it right, perhaps it’s best you learn from your mistake and move on. If you are feeling second-hand guilt, why? It’s important to figure that question out. We can help you turn your guilt into action. 

Stopping Intrusive Thoughts 

Intrusive thoughts can happen to anyone, but especially those with OCD. Intrusive thoughts can take a lot of effort to stop. Mindfulness techniques and cognitive behavioral therapy may help you learn more about why you feel this way, and what you can do about it. 

Stop Feeling Hopeless 

If you feel like you have no hope, why is that? Is it something you did or your circumstances of life. Learning to adapt a more positive attitude is the solution, but it’s not easy for everyone. If you’re unsure why you feel so hopeless, try figuring it out and realize that there is hope. 

Helping a Suicidal Friend 

Helping a friend who is suicidal can feel like dismantling a bomb. You want to be there for them, but how can you make the situation better and not worse? Offering a hand is a good idea, and calling emergency services should they seem suicidal is a good idea, too. The phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is: 1-800-273-8255, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Being a Good Person 

You may wonder how you can be a good person. While “good” is a little subjective, a good person is generally one who is empathetic towards and tries not to harm others. Look at your actions. Is there anything you can do better? Talk to people who you admire and see what they do differently in their life.  

Helping a Hoarder

If you live with a hoarder or know one, it can be distressing. If you live with a hoarder, your home is probably a fire hazard you can’t move around in. 

Helping a hoarder involves not enabling them or forcing them to remove their stuff. Instead, you need to ask them to seek professional help. There are usually underlying issues that cause their disorder that are best treated by a professional.

Improving Interpersonal Skills 

Learning how to be a better friend and leader can be a challenge. Some people are born with it, while others have to learn it. 

To improve, try talking to some strangers. Try being aware of your body language as well. That’s half the battle. If you're a socially awkward person, talking to someone can be a challenge. A counselor or a therapist can help.

Being Happy Alone 

Some people are lonely, and feel like having a relationship or friendship is the solution. However, others believe that they must be happy with themselves beforehand. If you want to be happy with yourself, practice a new hobby or skill and begin to develop yourself personally. 

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Overcoming Shyness

Some people are naturally shy, while others may deal with circumstantial shyness. They may be shy because they are the new student, or they are in a new town. 

Besides seeking therapy, putting yourself into social situations is a good way to begin to expose yourself to other people. Meeting with a group of people who share the same interests is also a good way to begin to change. 

Overcoming Fear 

Learning how to overcome your fear is always a good idea, but often, our fears hold us back. Therapy helps, as well as gradual exposure to your fear. For example, if you are afraid of heights, you might try exposure therapy. The goal of exposure therapy is to introduce anxiety-inducing elements into your life until you can conquer the next step. Setting reasonable goals is the key to exposure therapy.

Getting Over an Ex Boyfriend

If you had an ex-boyfriend and you can’t get past him, you may wonder how you can. Therapy helps, and so does talking to new people and discovering new hobbies. Also, taking a deep look can help. What did you like about this person, and can you find it in someone else? Getting over it can be hard, but we can help you do so. 

These how-to articles can help you reach your goals and improve yourself over time.