If you’ve ever wondered if there was anything that could help you overcome social anxiety, here is my own story of how hypnosis helped me.
I used to romanticize NYC summers, the rooftop gatherings, the post-work happy hour in Bryant Park, the rosé-fueled picnics in Central Park with people who always seemed casually cool. But what no one could see was this: beneath my floral summer dress and curated talking points, my body was bracing for social combat.
And I even had a protocol. Because when you live with social anxiety, small talk feels like a Broadway performance.
If I’m being honest with you…I prepped for parties like exams. I devoured the NY Times and WSJ to have something smart to say. I made lists of interesting topics, planned outfits, and cut carbs to feel a little thinner. I even read books on how to overcome shyness. But still—underneath it all—I felt like I didn’t belong. Eventually, I stopped trying to fix the surface and went deeper.
What Is Social Anxiety, Exactly?
If you’ve ever felt nervous speaking up in a meeting or awkward trying to start a conversation at a networking event, you’re not alone. These moments of discomfort are part of the human experience.
But social anxiety goes beyond occasional nervousness. It’s characterized by an intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or negatively evaluated by others. This fear can show up in various ways: obsessing over what people think of your appearance, feeling watched and scrutinized during conversations, or being so hyper-aware of how you’re being perceived that you can’t focus on anyone else.
What distinguishes social anxiety from normal nervousness is its intensity and impact. People often experience physical symptoms like sweating, blushing, hot flashes, gastrointestinal issues, dizziness, and a racing heart.
It’s also important to understand that social anxiety exists on a spectrum. You might feel completely overwhelmed speaking on a Zoom call, but perfectly at ease in one-on-one conversations. Or you might be comfortable in small groups but anxious at large gatherings.
It’s also important to point out that a common trait with people with social anxiety is that they often struggle with perfectionism, holding themselves to impossibly high standards.
Social anxiety becomes worth addressing when it starts limiting your life. Perhaps your social circle feels smaller than you’d like because meeting new people feels overwhelming. You might find yourself lying awake at night, replaying conversations on loop and judging every word you said—or didn’t say. Maybe you’ve watched opportunities pass you by at work because speaking up with confidence feels impossible. Or perhaps you’re a business owner holding back from promoting your work, paralyzed by the fear of criticism or negative feedback.
My First Hypnosis Session for Social Anxiety
I booked a session in Brooklyn with a hypnotist (who eventually became one of my teachers). I was nervous—not just socially nervous, but existentially nervous. At this point, I’d only tried YouTube hypnosis, and I wondered if this in-person would be different…
I had so many of the same misconceptions about hypnosis as many of my clients do before their first session. What if I lost control of my mind? What if I forgot who I was? What if I did something weird?
As I entered the room for my first hypnosis session, I noticed it smelled of sandalwood, and soft music played in the background. I sat with the hypnotist and talked about my shy symptoms – burning cheeks when I tried to meet new people and the sweat that would gather on my upper lip the moment I felt eyes on me. Then she had me lie down. I closed my eyes. She said we’d use my imagination—the same way I used it when writing or meditating.
She asked me to go back. Way back. To the first time I felt humiliated. Judged. Unsafe being seen.
And that’s when fifth-grade me came rushing forward.
It was a pep rally. I had choreographed a little performance to the song “Danger Zone” with a friend. (Talk about foreshadowing.) We’d spent all our time picking out outfits and fluffing our bangs instead of rehearsing. And, there we were, center stage, mics in hand. All eyes on us. Even my mom in the bleachers watching.
The music didn’t play right, and the choreography crumbled. I remember the blurry sting of being laughed at, booed, and humiliated. I’ll never forget the feeling of handing back the mic to the teacher and feeling so low. Afterward, a kid yelled from the bus window, “What were you trying to do?”
In hypnosis, I met that little girl again—but this time, through the eyes of compassion.
I saw a young girl who wanted to be seen. Yet, she just didn’t have the resources to hold that desire. The shame that had lingered for decades moved through me like a wave. Tears came rushing out of the corner of my eyes. And then, something subtle but seismic occurred: I felt a shift. A reclaiming. As if I was gathering pieces of myself I hadn’t realized I’d left behind.
That moment wasn’t just emotional—it was a turning point.
It turns out hypnosis (at least clinical hypnosis or hypnotherapy) wasn’t like the movies. It was actually super calming, like a meditation or visualization.
The Changes That Resulted After The Session
After my first session, I felt a sense of ease. The shame I’d carried about that incident in fifth grade was dissipating. I want to be transparent, though: that session was the first of a few. I know everyone wants a quick one-and-done fix, and while hypnosis works faster than many other supportive mental health practices, the process varies for everyone. Professional studies indicate that hypnosis has a 93% success rate with 6 sessions, and I find this to be true for my own clients as well.
It might seem surprising that a childhood moment could have such a lasting impact, but these foundational experiences shape our entire self-concept. In fact, some of the experiences that can contribute to social anxiety include childhood trauma, depression, abuse, low self-esteem, bullying, rejection or abandonment, and constant shaming (especially in public). That’s precisely why it’s so important to address social anxiety, as we can start to change the way we see ourselves, moving from outcast or unlovable to worthy.
Over time, something inside me began to reconfigure. My relationship with visibility shifted. I started speaking up at work and engaging with new people more easily. Even being on camera—something I used to dread—began to feel like an extension of who I was rather than a test I had to pass.
It wasn’t that I completely stopped getting nervous. Sometimes, my heart still beats a little faster before I speak in front of a crowd. But I no longer perceive visibility as a threat. So, I’m able to quickly shift my attention to my topic and the audience. I’m not thinking about whether they’re judging me.
Getting Started With Hypnosis for Social Anxiety
And I know I’m not alone in this, many other professionals suffer from social anxiety.
There are so many of us who appear polished and capable from the outside, yet inside we’re navigating a storm of self-doubt, social vigilance, and invisible fear. We’ve spent years adapting—learning how to appear composed while managing a nervous system that’s been on high alert since childhood.
This is exactly why I do the work I do.
I help professionals, creatives, and visionaries use hypnosis to reclaim their voice. To speak with clarity in rooms they once avoided. To show up on stage, in meetings, in life—not as a curated version of themselves, but as the full, integrated human they’ve always been beneath the fear.
Watching someone take their life back is the most powerful transformation I’ve witnessed. To reclaim your power from the bullies, the awkward moments, the misunderstood childhood experiences that fractured your sense of safety—that is healing in its truest form.
Because when we take our power back from the past, everything shifts.
If something in this story stirred something in you, a memory, a longing, or just the quiet thought, “Maybe this could help me too.” Then, I invite you to book a free consultation.
There’s no pressure—just a gentle space to explore what’s been holding you back, and whether my hypnosis for success sessions might be the support your nervous system has been waiting for.
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