Hello, my child. I hope my answer can be of some help to you.
From what you've shared, it seems like you're very honest with yourself and can objectively describe your own state of mind, which takes courage. Seeing is the beginning of healing. You feel the need to be independent, but your mother is always worried. This might also be why you're hesitant to "spread your wings and fly high."
It might be helpful to consider that our feelings of anxiety and fear in interpersonal interactions may stem from a tendency to care deeply about other people's comments and opinions. This concern about the opinions of others could potentially reflect a lack of self-assurance or self-acceptance. When we feel internally stable and have a sense of inner strength, we may find it easier to navigate social interactions with less fear and more natural ease.
If I might offer you a suggestion, it would be this:
It may be helpful to remember that self-care skills can be cultivated, and that we will eventually need to become independent.
It might be the case that, deep down, you long to be independent. However, because your mother is worried, you may lack confidence in your ability to be independent. Nevertheless, we will all eventually leave our parents behind, establish our own space, and become independent.
Independence can entail facing challenges and difficulties on one's own, but it also offers the opportunity for greater freedom and choice.
While our parents were not present to support us during challenging times, we were fortunate to have the love and strength they gave us to draw upon. I recall that when I first went to university, my father was understandably concerned when I left for the province. I was able to adapt to university life, and when I returned home for the National Day holiday, my father was reassured to see that I was taking good care of myself.
I was also quite fearful at the time, but I was fortunate to be surrounded by people of a similar age who could provide support and encouragement. I also had the opportunity to enhance my self-care abilities through mutual learning and assistance with friends.
It is important to remember that just because you are unable to do things for yourself now, it does not mean that you will not be able to in the future. In addition, it is inevitable that we will eventually need to be independent. The sooner you become independent, the more capable you will be of facing the challenges and difficulties in life in the future, and the more freedom and choices you will have. It is essential to have confidence in yourself. Only when you believe in yourself will you truly become what you want to be.
2. With regard to interpersonal relationships, it would be beneficial to learn how to handle other people's evaluations in a constructive manner and establish an internally stable evaluation system. This will help us to remain unaffected by external evaluations.
We all have our own unique perspectives and standards.
When others meet our evaluation standards, we tend to like, recognize, and support them. Conversely, when they do not meet our evaluation standards, we may find it challenging to like, recognize, and support them. Similarly, when we meet the other person's evaluation standards, the other person is likely to recognize us. However, when we do not meet the other person's evaluation standards, the other person may have a harder time recognizing us.
It is therefore important to remember that whether or not the other person recognises you has little to do with you, but rather whether you match their evaluation standards. However, we cannot control the thoughts and actions of others, and it is not always possible to meet everyone's evaluation standards.
Life presents challenges to us all. We all have different desires and find ourselves in different circumstances. There is no need to measure yourself against other people's standards, to expect others to align with your standards, or to seek universal approval for your actions.
It is not necessary to sacrifice ourselves to gain the approval of others or to maintain relationships. It is important to accept that people will have different opinions about us, and that we will be liked and disliked by different people. The key is to be comfortable with who we are, and to live our lives according to our own values and beliefs.
It's important to remember that we don't live to meet other people's expectations. If we keep seeking other people's approval and caring about what they think, we might end up living other people's lives. If we hope too much to be recognized by others, we might live our lives according to other people's expectations and lose sight of who we really are. This could lead to some challenges, as it might not be the life we truly want.
Perhaps it would be helpful to consider taking the right to evaluate yourself back into your own hands. You might find it beneficial to treat yourself as someone else and evaluate yourself comprehensively, objectively, and truthfully. This could help you to know yourself better and know yourself well enough. You may also find it useful to know what you want. When you have a stable evaluation system within, other people's evaluations may become less important.
At that time, even if someone offers a less than positive assessment, you will be able to maintain your perspective and not be unduly influenced by their comments.
3. Please share a few helpful tips for managing social anxiety.
It might be helpful to make an exit plan.
If I might make a suggestion, it would be to consider the possibility of developing an exit plan in advance. When we encounter a situation that makes us very nervous and fearful, our first reaction will generally be to flee. At this time, if we have
When we encounter a situation that makes us feel nervous or fearful, our natural response is often to try to avoid it. Having an exit plan in advance can help us feel more in control and alleviate our anxiety.
If we are sure that we can leave safely and know how, for example, how we will tell our relatives that I am leaving at a certain time and in what context, we may feel less anxious.
It may be the case that feeling less anxious is more likely if we are prepared and know what to expect.
It might be helpful to pay attention to other people and the environment.
In social situations, it is not uncommon to find ourselves focusing all our attention on ourselves, worrying about not acting appropriately, not dressing appropriately, or not speaking appropriately. This can often lead to feelings of discomfort and anxiety. However, if we shift our focus to other people, for instance, by looking for familiar faces, listening to conversations, or taking in our surroundings, we may find ourselves feeling more relaxed.
If you feel comfortable doing so, you might try acting it out and feeling it.
This is a mental imagery exercise. It may be helpful to imagine yourself as a celebrity who can communicate with others freely. At this time, you are playing someone else, not your true self. Even if you make a mistake, it is someone else's fault.
It may be helpful to consider that letting go of the burden could contribute to a sense of calm.
I hope you can find the strength within yourself to overcome challenges, to grow and develop, and to nurture your social skills. I believe that with time and dedication, you will become a confident individual, capable of taking care of yourself and navigating interpersonal interactions with ease.
Comments
I understand how you feel, it's tough being in a situation where you're preparing for such important exams while also dealing with personal challenges. It's okay to feel different from your peers; everyone has their unique journey. Maybe this is an opportunity to gradually build up your selfcare skills and confidence in social settings. Small steps can lead to big changes.
It sounds like you're under a lot of pressure right now. I think it's important to remember that it's alright to be anxious. Perhaps focusing on the fact that you're working towards something meaningful to you can help ease some of those feelings. Also, consider talking to someone about what you're going through; sometimes just sharing can lighten the load.
Your desire to be independent is commendable. While it might not be possible to fully achieve that right now due to your mom's concerns, maybe you could find ways to take small steps toward independence within the current boundaries. For instance, setting personal goals or finding activities that give you a sense of autonomy.
Feeling out of place among relatives can be really hard, especially when you're already introverted. But it's important to remember that it's okay to be quiet or reserved. You don't have to force yourself to be someone you're not. If you want, you could try initiating conversations around topics you're comfortable with or share a bit about your studies—it might help bridge the gap.
Anxiety before school starts is completely normal, but try not to let it overwhelm you. Think about what specifically makes you nervous and see if there are practical steps you can take to address those worries. For example, if transportation is an issue, perhaps practicing a safe route beforehand might help boost your confidence.