For example, say “I really liked your perspective on stay-at-home parents.”
Avoid Personal Questions
Unless you know the person well, do not ask overly personal questions.
Many people with SAD struggle with self-expression and have a fear of intimacy.
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Save those types of questions for more intimate conversations that take place after the getting-to-know-you stage.
Do your best to not interrupt the person with SAD when they are talking.
Suggest an Activity
Whenleaving the conversation, indicate that you enjoyed speaking with the other person.
If appropriate, extend an invitation to get together for an activity.
The results indicated that avoidance of eye contact was a distinct trait of social anxiety.
If the person you are speaking with has SAD, both answers may be partially true.
So give a shot to remember to be patient and avoid any snap judgments.
The person with SADisinterested in what you are saying and often wants to know more.
Cohen L. National Anxiety Center.Social Anxiety and Small Talk: The Nuts and Bolts of Making Conversation.
November 15, 2017.
National Institute of Mental Health.Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness.
Forbes.The Art and Science of Mirroring.
May 31, 2011.
2012;41(2):152-62. doi:10.1080/16506073.2012.666561
