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Anxiety
Feeling Intimidated? 7 Ways to Overcome Intimidation Like a Pro
I won’t lie to you, but there have been many instances where I’ve felt cowed by my peers and even certain family members. I’ve been a victim of bullying ever since I was in high school and what I could term bullying became intimidation when I entered adulthood. Feeling intimidated is probably one of those experiences that every one of us has faced at some point in our lives.
You may have felt intimidated at your workplace, in your social circles, or even in your personal relationships. No matter what situation you have felt intimidated in, the experience can leave a significant effect on your well-being. It doesn’t matter if the intimidation was unintentional or intentional, it can still leave you feeling off-centered.
In this article, I have a few tips that will help you overcome intimidation like a pro. Don’t worry! These tips are practical and will help you regain your footing and move forward with confidence!
What does it Look like when you’re feeling intimidated?
Intimidation is the feeling of being overwhelmed, threatened, or unnerved in the presence of someone or something. You can feel intimidated by different sources such as authority figures, competitive environments, or interactions that make you question your self-esteem. When you feel intimidated by someone – a partner, a friend, a family member, or a coworker – then it may affect your thoughts, emotions, and even actions.
If the other person has an intimidating personality, then they can make others feel self-conscious and threatened in their presence – sometimes intentionally and other times unintentionally.
How to tell if someone is being intimidating?
Here are some signs someone is being intimidating;
- They make prolonged eye contact or they avoid eye contact
- They are opinionated
- They are assertive
- They do not engage in small talk
- They are too goal-oriented
- They do not care for superficial attention
These are some common signs of an intimidating personality. However, these signs might not always be accurate depending on the personality and situation. If you want to learn more about an intimidating personality, then it is recommended that you speak to a counselor.
Types of Intimidation
When it comes to the types of intimidation, they can mainly be categorized into two; Intentional Intimidation and Unintentional Intimidation. As the terms may suggest, intentional intimidation is when someone tries to intimidate you on purpose (often bullying and manipulation) whereas unintentional intimidation is when a person is unaware of their self-assuredness and how it affects the people around them.
Other types of intimidation can include;
- Social intimidation that occurs in social situations (public speaking, social anxiety, etc.)
- Workplace intimidation is what occurs in the workplace and can affect your work life
- Intellectual intimidation occurs when you feel academically challenged by others, making you doubt your knowledge and confidence
- Physical intimidation occurs when you fear bodily harm, aggression, or violence.
Can Intimidation Affect Mental Well-Being?
Yes! Feeling intimidated can impact your mental well-being and can cause high levels of stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and poor self-worth. The fear of being judged or rejected can also stop you from taking risks, pursuing opportunities, and being assertive. If intimidation is left unchecked and unaddressed, it can cause mental health issues such as depression, social isolation, and even post-trauma stress (PTSD).
Tips to Overcome Intimidation
Here are some ways how to not be intimated by others;
1.Check In With Your Feelings
The first step in overcoming feeling intimidated like a pro is to check in with your feelings and accept them. Say yes to the feelings that come with feeling intimidated. You can also ask yourself, “What’s the cause of my intimidation?” Once you know why you feel intimidated, you can gain perspective and develop ways to address it.
2.Work on Your Self-Confidence
Work on building your self-confidence to not feel intimidated anymore. Self-confidence can be built when you engage in activities that celebrate your success, prioritize yourself, and boost your self-esteem. You can also choose to surround yourself with positive people and supportive friends who make it easier for you to be vulnerable.
3.Reach Out For Support
If you feel intimidated, then do not hesitate to reach out for support from your loved ones. Your support network can offer advice and encouragement to develop your self-confidence and feel less intimidated by others. You can also reach out to a therapist in such situations.
4.Learn to Reframe Your Thoughts
Challenge the negative thoughts that make you easily submit to intimidation. Replace and reframe those thoughts with positive affirmations and realistic self-talk. Remind yourself that you are also capable of great things, accomplishments, and success, just like others who make you feel cowed.
5.Practice Assertiveness
Assertiveness is also one of the most important things that you can do to stop feeling intimidated by others. Learn to communicate your needs, opinions, and thoughts clearly as others are wont to do. When you develop assertive communication, you’ll feel yourself becoming less and less intimidated by others.
6.Set Boundaries
People often let out their intimidating aura when they feel threatened by your presence, confidence, and self-assurance. It’s only your low self-esteem that can make you easily surrender to others’ intimidation. To stop feeling this way, you can set boundaries and clearly state your limits and tell others when they are making you uncomfortable.
7.Walk Away When Needed
Even after setting boundaries, there will be people who will invade and disrespect your boundaries. When that happens, you need to know that it’s OK to walk away. By removing yourself from the disrespectful environment, you are preventing others’ intimidating energy to affect you.
Wrap-Up
Feeling intimidated now and then is common and natural but it doesn’t have to control your thoughts, actions, and behaviors. Knowing how intimidation can affect you can help you fight it like a pro. In many cases, intimidation by others can be intentional or unintentional, but either way, it does not have to feel restricting.
By working on building self-esteem and confidence, you can learn to overcome intimidation and live a happy and successful life.
I hope this article helped you learn how to stop feeling intimidated. For more, write to us at info@calmsage.com or leave me a comment with your thoughts in the section below.
Take Care!