Playing it Safe is Dangerous

Playing it Safe is Dangerous

Update: 2025-09-08
Share

Description

When we feel anxious in social situations, we play it safe. We don't tell the funny joke, we sit in the corner of the room, we don't share our interests. This can temporarily make us feel more safe and at ease, but actually exacerbates the anxiety in the long run. In this episode I explore why playing it safe is a dangerous game, how it traps us from truly accepting ourselves and allowing others to accept us, and how it makes things worse in the long run. #socialanxiety #shyness #shyguy #socialskills #confidence #confidencebuilding


Sources:

Gray, E., Beierl, E. T., & Clark, D. M. (2019). Sub-types of safety behaviours and their effects on social anxiety disorder. PLOS ONE, 14(10), e0223165


Evans, R., Chiu, K., Clark, D. M., Waite, P., & Leigh, E. (2021). Safety behaviours in social anxiety: An examination across adolescence. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 144, Article 103931


Interested in following me or booking a coaching session? Find all links in Linktree below:https://linktr.ee/calmconfidence

Comments 
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Playing it Safe is Dangerous

Playing it Safe is Dangerous

Charles Perry