These Are the Best Jobs for People With Social Anxiety Disorder

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Finding a job that you enjoy and feel comfortable doing can be challenging for anyone. However, for people living withsocial anxiety disorderthis task can feel overwhelming.Not only does the job have to fit your interests and skill set, but it also shouldn’t exacerbate your anxiety symptoms.While each person will have their own interests and skillsets, there are jobs for people with social anxiety that will better suit their needs. Here are some of the best jobs for people who have social anxiety disorder.Verywell / Alexandra Gordon

Finding a job that you enjoy and feel comfortable doing can be challenging for anyone. However, for people living withsocial anxiety disorderthis task can feel overwhelming.

Not only does the job have to fit your interests and skill set, but it also shouldn’t exacerbate your anxiety symptoms.

While each person will have their own interests and skillsets, there are jobs for people with social anxiety that will better suit their needs. Here are some of the best jobs for people who have social anxiety disorder.

Verywell / Alexandra Gordon

1

Writer

Writing is a dream job for many. Unfortunately, it can be a hard profession to enter, and may take a while before you start earning a living wage. However, once you become established, it is possible to earn a living as a freelance writer.

Whether you want to write novels, advice columns, or technical manuals, get yourstart with a job that allows you to gain experiences, such as working as a technical writer or copywriter. Then, as you build confidence, you can take on freelance work and possibly even become a published author.

This will give you a chance to polish your social skills and expose yourself to those situations that cause you anxiety. If you find you are doing well, you might even volunteer to lead a presentation or help out on an advisory board.

2

Artist

An artist is another job that might be appealing if you live with social anxiety. However, earning a living as an artist can be a difficult pursuit. As anartist, you may need to take on a day job to support yourself while you make art on the side.

If you have a passion for this type of work, think about related jobs that might give you the same creative outlet and ability to work alone some of the time. Graphic design might be an option that gives you the opportunity to support yourself as an artist.

3

Animal Care or Training

A dog trainer is one example of a job working with animals that might be appealing if you live with social anxiety.

Other possibilities include:

If you enjoy working with animals, these can be rewarding positions requiring some social interaction and giving you space to work quietly and independently. You may alsoenjoy the reciprocal affectionthat animals often provide.

4AccountantAccountants manage bookkeeping and financial details for businesses and individuals. If you excel at math and enjoy working with numbers, being an accountant can give you the opportunity to work independently.Whether you work for a company or as a private accountant, there will be some level of interaction required with others. Focus on your abilities and be confident in your work, and your comfort level with this aspect of the job will increase.Becoming an accountant can be a good way to challenge some of your social fears gradually. Meetings with clients canwork on your social skills, and attendance at networking events will help you challenge your social fears.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

4

AccountantAccountants manage bookkeeping and financial details for businesses and individuals. If you excel at math and enjoy working with numbers, being an accountant can give you the opportunity to work independently.Whether you work for a company or as a private accountant, there will be some level of interaction required with others. Focus on your abilities and be confident in your work, and your comfort level with this aspect of the job will increase.Becoming an accountant can be a good way to challenge some of your social fears gradually. Meetings with clients canwork on your social skills, and attendance at networking events will help you challenge your social fears.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

Accountant

Accountants manage bookkeeping and financial details for businesses and individuals. If you excel at math and enjoy working with numbers, being an accountant can give you the opportunity to work independently.

Whether you work for a company or as a private accountant, there will be some level of interaction required with others. Focus on your abilities and be confident in your work, and your comfort level with this aspect of the job will increase.

Becoming an accountant can be a good way to challenge some of your social fears gradually. Meetings with clients canwork on your social skills, and attendance at networking events will help you challenge your social fears.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

5

Landscaper

Landscapers can work for landscaping companies, golf courses, or as private entrepreneurs.Landscaping can give you the freedom to spend your day alone and outdoors. These jobs are excellent if you are not happy working in an office environment.

If you decide to run your own landscaping company, you will need to become adept at communicating with customers. In this way, landscaping can afford you the opportunity to challenge your fears while having the security of “downtime” on the job.

6

Entrepreneur

As an entrepreneur or business owner, you will work for yourself, set your own schedule, and be responsible for your own success. The advantage of being an entrepreneur is that you have complete control over what you do. It’s also easy to see how many other professions on this list can be combined with entrepreneurship.

Although you will interact with customers or deal with suppliers as a business owner, you will not have a supervisor watching over you. You can also hire other people to do jobs that you don’t enjoy.

7

Computer Programmer

To work as a computer programmer, you must be detail-oriented, enjoy solving problems, and focus for long periods of time. While there will be some degree of social interaction required of you as a programmer, employees in these positions are generally valued for theiranalytical skillsrather than their communication skills.

8CounselorCounselor or therapist might not be the first job you think of if you have social anxiety. You may be worried about speaking with clients at length. But your ability toempathizewith their situations makes this an ideal job.You understand what your clients are experiencing,you are a good listener, and you likely have acommunication stylethat others with social anxiety will not find threatening.If you have received treatment and overcome your social anxiety, you are in a perfect position to help others. In addition, this position will give you unique insight into your own struggles at the same time.

8

CounselorCounselor or therapist might not be the first job you think of if you have social anxiety. You may be worried about speaking with clients at length. But your ability toempathizewith their situations makes this an ideal job.You understand what your clients are experiencing,you are a good listener, and you likely have acommunication stylethat others with social anxiety will not find threatening.If you have received treatment and overcome your social anxiety, you are in a perfect position to help others. In addition, this position will give you unique insight into your own struggles at the same time.

Counselor

Counselor or therapist might not be the first job you think of if you have social anxiety. You may be worried about speaking with clients at length. But your ability toempathizewith their situations makes this an ideal job.

You understand what your clients are experiencing,you are a good listener, and you likely have acommunication stylethat others with social anxiety will not find threatening.

If you have received treatment and overcome your social anxiety, you are in a perfect position to help others. In addition, this position will give you unique insight into your own struggles at the same time.

SummaryWhat do all of these jobs have in common? In some ways, they resemble the fear hierarchies used incognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT) for social anxiety. These jobs allow you to face your fear of social interaction in a way that doesn’t overwhelm you. With these jobs, you can face the social interactions you fear the least and gradually moving toward more challenging situations.In the end, only you know what the right job is for you. But, of course, the best job is one that allows you to pursue your dreams without triggering or worsening your anxiety symptoms.If you think you have social anxiety, the most important question to ask yourself is whether it’s preventing you from achieving your goals. If the answer is yes, then you might consider contacting a mental health professional. Remember that anxiety can be managed and treated, just like any other medical condition.Why Certain Jobs Can Be Worse for People With Social Anxiety Disorder

Summary

What do all of these jobs have in common? In some ways, they resemble the fear hierarchies used incognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT) for social anxiety. These jobs allow you to face your fear of social interaction in a way that doesn’t overwhelm you. With these jobs, you can face the social interactions you fear the least and gradually moving toward more challenging situations.

In the end, only you know what the right job is for you. But, of course, the best job is one that allows you to pursue your dreams without triggering or worsening your anxiety symptoms.

If you think you have social anxiety, the most important question to ask yourself is whether it’s preventing you from achieving your goals. If the answer is yes, then you might consider contacting a mental health professional. Remember that anxiety can be managed and treated, just like any other medical condition.

Why Certain Jobs Can Be Worse for People With Social Anxiety Disorder

2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: More than just shyness.Tibi-Elhanany Y, Shamay-Tsoory SG.Social cognition in social anxiety: First evidence for increased empathic abilities.Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2011;48(2):98-106.Additional ReadingAnxiety and Depression Association of America.Anxiety and stress in the workplace.

2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: More than just shyness.Tibi-Elhanany Y, Shamay-Tsoory SG.Social cognition in social anxiety: First evidence for increased empathic abilities.Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2011;48(2):98-106.Additional ReadingAnxiety and Depression Association of America.Anxiety and stress in the workplace.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: More than just shyness.Tibi-Elhanany Y, Shamay-Tsoory SG.Social cognition in social anxiety: First evidence for increased empathic abilities.Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2011;48(2):98-106.

National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: More than just shyness.

Tibi-Elhanany Y, Shamay-Tsoory SG.Social cognition in social anxiety: First evidence for increased empathic abilities.Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2011;48(2):98-106.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Anxiety and stress in the workplace.

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