Embarrassing Things to Do in Public to Ease SAD

Embarrassing Things to Do in Public to Ease SAD Social Anxiety Disorder Coping Print 13 Embarrassing Things to Do in Public to Help Overcome Social Anxiety By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder and 7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety. Learn about our editorial policy Arlin Cuncic Updated on July 14, 2019 Social Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Victor Pontes / Getty Images Thinking of  silly things  to do in public might seem like the last thing you would want to do if you live with social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, it just might be the best way to start overcoming your fears. Doing silly things in public could be considered a type of behavioral experiment, which is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).  The key when it comes to social anxiety is to choose something to do that would normally embarrass you or that you would try to avoid. Start small and build up your ability to do these types of silly things. Do the easier ones first and the harder ones later. Ideally, these silly things make you feel a little or a lot embarrassed but dont hurt anyone else. Unlike your typical habit of avoidance, your goal with this task is to become embarrassed or to have others judge you. Silly, Embarrassing Things to Do in Public to Help Overcome SAD Below is a list of 20 silly things to do in public  to get started. Dance in public as though there is music. Pick your favorite song (maybe something with a bit of get up and go like Footloose) and start dancing around like a fool. Hope that people take notice.Ask someone for directions to the place where you already are. When they explain your embarrassing mistake, give a big smile and say Thank you! That makes it so much easier.Pretend to fall down. Then have trouble getting back up.Intentionally forget someones name. Then apologize. You dont want to hurt the other persons feelings.Pretend to recognize someone you dont know.  Walk up and say Hey James, how are you doing? The other person will quickly tell you that youve made a mistake.  Sing in public. Loudly. Smile while you do it.Pay entirely with pennies. Count slowly and dont apologize.Ask for directions and then go the opposite way. Leave the direction-giver bewildered.Read a magazine or book upside down. Do this on a bus or in a mallâ€"anywhere that you are likely to get some odd looks.Wear something outlandish or completely out of character for you. A wide-brimmed sombrero comes to mind. When others comment on your attire, say What do you mean?Ask for a discount on something. Do this somewhere that it seems completely inappropriate, such as a grocery or department store. Can I get a better price on those bananas? The goal is not to get the discount but to embarrass yourself. Act as though there is nothing unusual about your request.Try to sell your stuff to telemarketers when they call you. Dont take no for an answer.Go to McDonalds and order a Whopper. When the cashier explains that they dont sell Whoppers, look around, slap your forehead and say This looks just like the Dairy Queen. Sorry. Behaviors to Help Make You the Center of Attention While these were silly things to do, contemplate also doing things that challenge your social anxiety in that they draw attention to you. Rather than being silly, these behaviors are designed to make you the center of attention. You will soon realize, however, that people notice you (and the mistakes you make) much less than you think. Knock over your water in a restaurant.  Apologize profusely to the server and ask for napkins so you can clean it up afterward. Your goal is to draw attention to yourself, not to make the servers job harder.Go to a restaurant on your birthday and have them sing to you. Dont look at the table. Smile and look around the restaurant as you are made the center of attention.Press the wrong button for someone in an elevator. Do this on purpose. But, then apologize and press the right one.Pay with the wrong bills or change. Wait for the cashier to notice before correcting yourself.Show up late somewhere and make a spectacle of yourself. It might feel like the end of the world but its really not. Notice how little others really pay attention to what you do. A Word From Verywell The goal of these activities is to prove to yourself that you can make mistakes without it being a catastrophe. People with social anxiety view social situations as having strict rules of conduct, so it is important for you to break those down. Now go make some mistakes!