When I was in high school, I had social anxiety and a tendency to isolate myself. I was also seeing a psychologist at the time. One summer, my mom and I decided

When I was in high school, I had social anxiety and a tendency to isolate myself. I was also seeing a psychologist at the time. One summer, my mom and I decided (with professional blessing) that I would get a “point” for every activity I did with my friends. It worked, and was actually a big turning point for me personally. If nothing else, it became a way for us to talk about anxiety in a way that removed some of the pressure I was putting on myself and turned it into a game: I wasn’t failing as a person any more, I was just playing a game. Please be careful about dismissing an idea so absolutely. Everyone is different. Sometimes crutches do help.