One way to control your anxiety is to look at it from 3 perspectives: mind, body and action. By looking at each one, you can better manage your anxiety and it can be easier for you to overcome your stress.

Your Mind

The first step is to focus on how your thinking is the root of your problem. A lifetime of unhealthy mental beliefs and habitual patterns are what trigger your anxiety. Here are some of the biggest traps, and some suggestions on how you can get past them:

• Focusing on yourself - Stop concentrating on yourself and what others may be thinking. Focus your thoughts on another person, or on the task you are supposed to be doing.

• Trying to be perfect - No one is perfect, so there is no point trying to be.

• Mistakes - Everyone makes mistakes, and if you learn from them, they can be viewed in a more positive light.

• Controlling social situations - Always being in control means you are avoiding any new situations and the opportunities to gain more social confidence. Take a few risks now and then, and you'll find yourself better able to handle them.

Your Body

Believe it or not, taking care of your physical body is a big step in controlling your stress and anxiety. There are basically 3 areas that you should focus on to keep your body in the best shape:

• Exercise - By exercising regularly, you'll find yourself to generally have less stress which can reduce your specific social anxiety. Going to a gym may just add more stress, so try doing some work outs at home with a stepper, stationary bike or hand weights.

• Caffeine - This should be no surprise. Overall stress levels will come down greatly if you cut all the caffeine out of your diet.

• Sleep - Get enough rest, and you'll be much better equipped to handle any social situation.

Take Some Action

Avoiding social settings may seem to help but you won't get any better with this approach. You should try to expose yourself to new situations (slowly) in order to build that confidence. Do it gradually, and when you find that your anxiety levels are starting to go down you can move on to a new situation.

Repeat this as often as you can, and make sure to give each "exposure" enough time. Don't let your anxiety control you, and let yourself try a situation long enough for your stress to become manageable.

Please remember: If you feel you need help in working on your social anxiety problem, especially if your symptoms are interfering with your life, don't wait to seek help from a qualified professional. The earlier social anxiety disorder is identified and treated the better.