No matter which factor caused your insecurities, you can feel better knowing that they had their roots in some stressful occurrence. You should not feel badly, because these situations could cause anyone to develop insecurities. The Second Strategy: Taking Baby Steps To Grow

Once you have identified the cause of your problem, you can move on to the second strategy in dealing with insecurity. Since you know the circumstances that cause the most difficulties, try to gradually overcome your tendency to feel insecure by introducing yourself to those situations slowly. This could be thought of as a sort of desensitization process. If you have trouble in social environments, for example, ask trusted friends or family members to go with you and act as a buffer. Going out in groups takes some of the pressure off of you and helps you to enjoy social activities. Just make sure that the people you choose are aware of your situation. Far from ridiculing you, loved ones will want to help and will most likely do anything within their means to make sure you feel comfortable. Eventually, you will become confident enough to go out on your own. Setting small goals or micromovements is important in this step. Try to set up situations in which you deal with only a small part of your insecurity at a time. If you try too much too soon, you may feel overwhelmed which will only hurt you in the long run. Your first goal might simply be to go out to a quiet restaurant with a group of friends. Next you might have one of your friends bring along another friend whom she knows you would likely relate. Keep taking minor steps until you can introduce yourself to someone new at a social gathering without any friends present.