Ok, so I was out at the pub today with a friend who has major social anxiety. We came up with a game to help him be comfortable around people he doesn't know, it also turns out to be pretty fun and gives you a reason to talk to people at a later point (In a, hey I remember you.. way)

The game goes as follows:

  • You both have to find a group of people at a table or at the bar, (a table works best).

  • Sit with the people without saying a word.

  • Ensure that you make eye-contact with everyone at the table, (you can supplement this with counting under your breath each time you make eye-contact).

  • If someone at the table asks you a direct question you have to answer.

  • The goal is to remain silent for as long as possible. The first person to speak to anyone else apart from the counting eye-contact looses.

  • When someone loses the other person has to declare that they won in a suitable manner (I like standing up and rubbing it in their face).

From then on you can introduce yourselves and chat normally.

The trick is to do it in a way which makes the people at the table comfortable (smile and nod when they are talking).

This game actually does wonders for your inner game (I was feeling pumped and my friend was actually talking to new people by the end of the night which is a very big thing for him). By forcing you to see that some kind of situation which would normally be extremely awkward can actually be really fun you end up putting less pressure on those situations.