social interactions that keeps you want to feel like people like me but I fear avoid me or pay any attention to me make a point to engage people ask questions make eye contact and make them feel interested in what they say so enjoy talking to me If possible with a friend or therapist where they act the part of the critical other and you act the part of being assertive and defending yourself Or stand in front of a mirror and literally act out the two sides Get used to hearing yourself clarify thoughts or statements without being defensive A good formula for this is starting with something validating followed by a clarifying understand what you mean but actually I see it quite the same way as you do After practicing assertiveness get out in the world and talk to people You can tolerate the uncertainty of not knowing what people are thinking and still enjoy the social experiences BUILDING UNCERTAINTY TOLERANCE Learning to tolerate uncertainty and seeing that possible to live with it is actually much easier in the long run than overthinking possibilities and imagining terrifying outcomes Here are four steps toward increasing your tolerance for