Ran D. Anbar, MD, FAAP

Pediatric Pulmonologist & Medical Counselor

Dr. Ran D. Anbar is a pediatric medical counselor and is board certified in both pediatric pulmonology and general pediatrics, offering clinical hypnosis and counseling services at Center Point Medicine in La Jolla, California and Syracuse, New York. With over 30 years of medical training and practice, Dr. Anbar has also served as a professor of pediatrics and medicine and the Director of pediatric pulmonology at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Dr. Anbar holds a BS in Biology and Psychology from the University of California, San Diego and an MD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Anbar completed his pediatric residency and pediatric pulmonary fellowship training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and is also a past President, fellow and approved consultant of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.

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How do I deal with social anxiety?
Think about an upcoming social encounter and try to imagine it in a positive way. Instead of thinking that it might be difficult or awkward, think about how you would like the encounter to flow smoothly and comfortably. Positive thinking is a way of coaching your brain to consider ways that an experience might go well, and this makes it more likely that the situation will be successful.

Before the social event, use breathing techniques to calm yourself down. Inhale slowly through your nose for 3 seconds, hold your breath for 5 seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth for 7 seconds. Repeat this cycle of breathing 10 times and notice how calm you can become.

Remember that you the people you're interacting with in a social situation don't notice everything you're saying and doing as much as you do.

When you're socializing, pretend you're at a relaxing place to help keep yourself calm. For example, you might imagine being on a warm beach and speaking casually with a friend.

Talk about whatever the other person is interested in rather than focusing on what you should say. Doing this means that you don't have to initiate the conversation, you can just let the other person take the lead. You got this!

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