Conference Anxiety and Social Anxiety Disorder

Updated September 30, 2014.

Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.

Conference anxiety can be a problem for those who work in the business and academic worlds. For those with social anxiety disorder (SAD), anxiety about attending conferences, trade shows, and other events can be so severe that it interferes with the ability to effectively perform job duties. Although there is no substitute for professional treatment for SAD such as therapy or medication, there are a number of coping strategies that can help you get through difficult conferences and events.

Below are some tips to help you cope.

Use Visuals

If you have difficulty introducing yourself at conferences and other events, this tip may help. If the conference registration desk offers name tags, be sure to take one and place it in a visible location such as your shoulder. Often these name tags will include details such as your company or affiliation, which will save you some of the work of explaining who you are and what you do. If you have a difficult name to pronounce or spell, having a name tag can make introductions easier.

Volunteer for a Job

If possible, see if you can volunteer for a job at the conference or event. Although having a job such as working at the registration desk or greeting attendees as they enter may seem overwhelming at first, it will give you something to do as well as help you to mingle with other guests. Best of all, you may make friends with other volunteers and end up spending less time alone at the conference.

Get to Know Other Attendees Before You Go

If you will be attending an event where you do not know anyone, make a point of trying to get to know at least one other fellow attendee prior to going. Although it may be awkward to try and get to know someone in advance, you will be glad to see a friendly face when you arrive. Make plans to meet up for coffee or a meal during the event and you will feel less like an outsider amongst an unfriendly crowd.

Imagine How Someone Else Would Behave

If the thought of walking into a crowded exhibit hall has thrown your panic into overdrive, take a moment and think about how a confident acquaintance would behave in the same situation. Would she walk in and introduce herself to others? How would she be dressed and how would she carry herself? What conversation topics might she bring up? Although we all want to be ourselves, if it helps you to get through a stressful situation, it is okay to "pretend" to be someone else once in a while. Over time, you might actually find yourself feeling more confident.

There is no substitute for professional treatment for those who suffer from severe social anxiety. If your performance at work is severely affected by social anxiety it is important to seek help from a qualified professional.

_Sources

_{Carducci BJ. Shyness: A bold new approach. New York: Harper Collins; 2000.}

_{Carducci BJ. Pocket guide to making successful small talk: How to talk to anyone anytime, anywhere about anything. New York: Pocket Guide Publications; 1999.}

_{Fripp P. Make the most of networking. Accessed January 20, 2010.}

_{McKay DR. Surviving a business conference. Accessed January 21, 2010.}