Dating isn’t easy, even at the best of times. But for people who struggle with social anxiety, it can feel like an impossible task.

If you have a social anxiety disorder, you might be wondering how to build better relationships while living with the condition.

We’ve put together some helpful advice to get you started:

1. Consider Dating Apps

Socially anxious people tend to have an easier time talking to people on dating apps because there’s less pressure involved. They don’t have to worry about appearance, environment, or how they’re being perceived.

While dating apps cannot be the only way of having a love life, using them wisely can help make things easier for people with social anxiety.

For example, when you meet someone on an app, you can spend some time getting to know them through texting or calls. You can arrange to meet in person once a certain comfort level has been established.

2. Understand Your Anxiety

Social anxiety can affect different people in different ways. For some, it’s severe enough to make them avoid new people altogether. For others, it can lead to trust issues or an inability to be vulnerable with someone they care about.

You can deal with your social anxiety more effectively if you know how it impacts you. Try to figure out how it’s disrupting your relationships.

Are you completely unable to reach out to someone new? Do you shut down emotionally when people try to get close to you? Do your partners complain that they can’t get past your defenses? The answers to these questions will help you realize what to do about your anxiety.

3. Going on Dates

Prolonged one-on-one interactions with someone can be upsetting if you’re socially anxious. It can be helpful to get to know someone outside of a romantic context before going on a date with them.

Conversations—especially first-date conversations—can be difficult. Here are a few ideas:

• Start small. During the date, share a few things that are important to you and spend some time discussing them.
• Don’t overthink about how your date might perceive you. Social anxiety and overactive imaginations can cause people to think of worst-case scenarios.
• Stay calm and pay attention to your breathing; rather than worrying about saying the wrong thing or panicking about “What if?” situations, try to stay as relaxed as possible. Ask open-ended questions, and don’t use one-word answers yourself.

4. Building a Relationship

Relationships are built on trust, honesty, and open communication. Even if trust and open communication are tough for you, you can still be honest with your partner and develop a better relationship.

Say what you mean, express what you’re struggling with, and be upfront about the issues caused by your social anxiety. Suppressing your emotions will only increase their impact instead of decreasing it.

Remember that they wouldn’t be with you if they didn’t love you. Give them the chance to support you, and make sure that you’re supporting them in your own way.

Our personal development blog aims to help you improve your relationships with the best dating tips and posts on self-development & self-improvement. Read our blog posts and start building a more fulfilling relationship.