Does "fake it til you make it" work 4 u?

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Some people (or a least one) I know with anxiety says this occasionally works when she's dealing her two kids (both sons). Do you ever fake low anxiety levels? Does it help? I don't think it does me.

Yep. I use this technique at work when someone is ratcheting up the tension. The more intense they get, the calmer I appear to be. Inside I may feel the anxiety heightening, but I have more control over them and the situation by faking a cool and calm demeanor. It seems to diffuse those situations in those moments...

I think if I had to live with my dad and modify my speech all the time, I would not do well. Good think that I DON'T live him.

Making an attempt to push yourself and stretch your comfort zone a little eventually helps, but simply being fake will drain you.

It works to an extent. But.. i've heard all of these quick 1 step solutions to fixing a major problem.

Fake it till you make it, imagine people in their underwear if you're speaking in front of a group, etc.

This isn't merely being nervous that you'll sound stupid, this is anxiety and the steps to fix it are long and complicated. Medication, better cardiovascular and mental health, better overall social cognitive awareness, etc.

The fear in my opinion for people with aspergers, is that there's a huge blank gap in basic knowledge towards socializing and interaction that we know nothing about.

So once we enter into the process of putting ourselves in a situation that causes discomfort, the anxiety can hit us like a truck.

Everything that we tried before doesn't work as well as we wanted it to or we wouldn't post here. That being said it works to an extent, but these people giving the advice don't actually know what you go through in the first place.

I don't think it works as a way of reducing anxiety but I find it necessary sometimes nonetheless.

Sweet Pea hugs

I've tried to fake it before, but it sometimes causes me to have physical pain. I've gotten indigestion and headaches when trying to appear confident when I', really just anxious.

I do at work and in front of new acquaintances, It is draining so be prepared with another out let for your stress if your are going to try it.

Faking it creates a bottleneck of tension and leads me sooner or later to a meltdown. I try to deal directly with a situation even if one tiny aspect only.
Sometimes a hasty Exit, Stage Left is required until I figure out what to do.

I often stay calm when people are yelling at me - but often this seems to make them even more angry.