If you're experiencing fear of judgment, it can be challenging to share your experiences in the community or reply to others in comments.
If you're feeling this way, please know that it's normal and you're very welcome here no matter how active you are ready to be.
However, if you have some openness or curiosity about the possibility of sharing posts or connecting with others, we'd like to support you with some tips.
It's important that you start by taking small risks and grow from there. This is the best (and evidence-based) way to safely overcome social anxiety.
We’ve put together a couple of tips to help you connect safely and comfortably.
1. Make yourself comfortable
- You can be completely anonymous. If you would like to change your username or profile picture, go to My profile→ Edit profile and change it to what makes you more comfortable.
- Our moderators (@{Sofie}(1792284361) and myself) are also here to prevent any judgmental messages such that we can all interact with kindness and openness.
2. Say 'hi!" in the Introductions thread
You can simply say hi or if you're ready for a bit more, answer one of these questions:
- What brings you here?
- Where are you in your social anxiety journey right now?
- What are you looking to receive from or offer to the community?
3. Share your thoughts in General discussion
- We post new discussion topics weekly where we share our experiences and exchange tips.
- We'd love to hear your thoughts! If you're afraid that your point is not going to be new for others or that they will judge you, try to imagine it's your friend having these fears. What would you advise them?
4. Consider writing your first post in Coping with anxiety
- Have you ever read someone's experience with social anxiety and felt deep relatability and relief that you're not the only one who feels this way?
- Consider that you could give someone else who is struggling and feels alone such an experience!
- When you share your experience of anxiety with others, you not only receive support but you might also help someone who feels the way you do but is afraid to share it.
- If you’re not sure what to post, consider these prompts: What’s something that helped you with social anxiety recently? Is there something that you feel stuck on and would like to get support? Are you looking for any recommendations?
5. Absorb what’s useful, leave the rest.
- Not everything will resonate with you and this is absolutely fine.
- Everyone has different experiences and so when you come to the community, please know that there will be no expectations.
- Absorb what you find useful and leave the rest. You are the expert on you.
6. Last but not least: House rules
The Alena social anxiety community is moderated by Alena team members whose role is to monitor the community to ensure safety and fairness as well as provide helpful resources in the community.
We have a zero tolerance policy with respect to:
- Discrimination, harassment, and hate speech
- Self-promotion, or marketing spam
- Sexually explicit, violent, or disturbing content
Through our moderators, we hope you will feel comfortable and confident to share and connect with others here.
Our team is available online everyday from 9am to 6pm. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out and contact us on hello@alena.com
DISCLAIMER: Our moderators are not trained counsellors and cannot provide emergency support. If you need urgent support and help, please look to these resources.
Once again, warm welcome to the community!