I’ve always been a bit of a worrier, but lately, my anxiety has escalated to the point where I am physically shaking before I have to leave the house. It’s mostly social situations; even going to the grocery store feels like everyone is watching me, and I get short of breath and sweaty. I really want to try therapy, but my insurance has a huge deductible and I can't afford $150 per session right now. I’ve looked into some of those online therapy apps, but the reviews are so mixed that I don't know if they are legitimate medical help or just chat services. Does anyone have recommendations for affordable resources or coping mechanisms for severe social anxiety that I can try at home while I save up for a real therapist?

From Winds Of Doctrine: Studies in Contemporary Opinion

"Act as if what you do makes a difference—small habits reshape the mind"

We become what we repeatedly do. Your anxiety is real, but so is your capacity for gradual change. Do not wait until you can afford therapy to begin. Start smaller: one minute of calm breathing, one short walk, one conversation. The will strengthens through use, not through waiting.

From Meditations

"You have power over your mind, not outside events—observe without judgment"

We suffer more in imagination than in reality. The grocery store is not watching you—that is your mind creating phantoms. When anxiety rises, observe it as you would observe weather: "There is fear." Do not fight it. Do not feed it. Simply notice, and let it pass. This costs nothing and requires no therapist.