About This Quiz
Some people can laugh off a potential faux paus, while others dwell on it for days -- or even years. How self-conscious do you feel -- and what's normal? Test your knowledge and learn how to combat self-consciousness with this quiz.When a group of people suddenly turn their attention on you, it's normal to feel like you're in the spotlight. How you handle it, however, says a lot about how self-conscious you are. In this case, deflecting the question and refocusing the group is key to regaining your comfort.
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Embarrassing things happen. But if you dwell on these events, you'll begin to feel ashamed and even more embarrassed. The key to a healthy level of self-consciousness is to briefly acknowledge an embarrassing event and then move on.
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When all eyes are on you, your body may react physically as though you're in danger, preparing you for flight or fight. But you don't have to do either. Take the situation in stride: Instead of focusing on yourself (and your potential shortcomings), put it out of your head and listen to the next joke.
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You know the material -- which is the part of the presentation that the client is interested in -- even if you've forgotten your clever opener. If you share your knowledge, it will take the focus off of you and help ease your self-consciousness.
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No one's perfect, least of all while wearing a swimsuit. Instead of spiraling into negative self-talk, distract yourself with a conversation, book or game. It will get your mind off your own insecurities. Scoring guide: If you answered four or five questions correctly, you're really self-confident -- good for you! If you answered two or three correctly, you let your self-consciousness get the better of you sometimes -- but then, most people do. If you answered one or none correctly, you're too self-conscious for your own good -- and reading that probably just made you feel more self-conscious. But don't worry about it: Learning about anxiety can help you cope with it. Start with the next question.
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The feeling of being self-conscious is actually tied to socialization, a skill that's central to human survival.
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People who are more self-conscious are often able to empathize with others, which can include being able to lend an ear.
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People who feel self-conscious are focusing on themselves; sometimes this focus can become prolonged and lead to ongoing self-consciousness.
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A surge of self-consciousness can create a physical reaction as your body prepares for fight or flight with a rush of adrenaline.
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Being more organized and planning ahead can help you avoid stressful situations that bring on self-consciousness, like running late all the time. (If your self-consciousness is what's making you late in the first place -- say, by leading you to be indecisive about your outfit -- try giving yourself way more time than you think you need to get ready.)
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Feelings of embarrassment, pride and guilt are all part of feeling self-conscious. Thinking about what spurs those emotions in you can help you combat them.
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When someone feels self-conscious, he's imagining the thoughts and reactions of those around him. Remember that you can't know what someone else is thinking, and that most people aren't as aware of you as you're aware of yourself -- and that you may be your own harshest critic.
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For many people, the first step in easing extreme self-consciousness is gaining an understanding and awareness of the problem.
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Professionally guided cognitive-behavioral therapy can help people who are self-conscious focus on their present (and positive) behaviors instead of dwelling on past mistakes.
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Always bringing along a friend for comfort is one symptom of self-consciousness.
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Learning to control your breathing could help combat self-consciousness because it can keep you calm in stressful situations.
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By facing your fears and becoming more involved in social situations, you will eventually temper your self-consciousness with confidence gained from positive experiences.
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Caffeine from things like coffee and chocolate can increase anxiety symptoms.
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When you get a good night's sleep, you are not as vulnerable to anxiety and feeling self-conscious.
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If you would like to feel less self-conscious, there are plenty of options for getting help, ranging from self-help books to social skills classes to behavioral therapy. The first step is deciding that you want to make a change.
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