BLUF
Social anxiety can stem from self-critical inner voices and fear of exposing perceived flaws. Alcohol may dull this temporarily but worsens anxiety long-term. True relief comes from identifying, questioning, and reasoning with the inner critic through clear, realistic thinking.Learning Outcomes
- Recognise the “inner critic” as a source of performance anxiety, and learn to respond with clarity rather than avoidance.
- Apply “3-question reasoning” (What bad? What odds? How could I cope?) to defuse catastrophic thinking.
- Replace dependence on short-term stress relievers with reflective and disciplined cognitive strategies that promote long-term confidence and composure.
