Being a victim of addiction can mean that you have isolated yourself. You may have forgotten social skills that you used to know before you used drugs. It is important to learn how to become social again by skills such as making eye contact so that people know that you care what someone is saying.

Benefits of Eye Contact

Making good eye contact will be a useful skill for job interviews to show that you care about the position you applied for. It will tell your boss that you can be trusted and that you know what you are talking about. Dates can be useful to show off that skill as well to show you are interested in that person. This is a good time to hold your gaze longer than usual to show you care what your date says and that they have your attention. During arguments, make eye contact so you do not appear weak or unsure of yourself. Eye contact will give you confidence in what you say as well as your position.

How To Make Eye Contact

Turn your head and your shoulders around so that you can face your eyes towards the person you are speaking to. This will show that you are listening and ready to talk. If you are uncomfortable looking at someone directly in the eye, look between their eyes, above or under, or their earlobes. When you look at someone, look at them gently so that you do not intimidate them if it is too stern. Breathe slowly and nod occasionally. Look away once in a while for a few seconds to keep the conversation easy.

Remind yourself to make eye contact for every conversation that you have. You can first practice while listening to someone instead of while talking. Rotate your gaze to both eyes, the person’s nose, or their mouth. You can even practice by staring at the screen or the mirror as you will have no one to judge you or make you feel intimidated. Watching the news can be helpful as a news anchor will look directly at the camera so it will make it easier for you to look back at him or her. Looking at someone in the eye is a sign of trust, being reliable, and being open. If you can accomplish this skill, it will be a good start in bringing more people into your social circle and away from isolation.

Choose Bayview Recovery

When you come to Bayview Recovery, we offer a variety of services for people who have struggled with addiction. One of those options is our life skills program, where you will learn how to make eye contact with others. You will also learn how to:

• Be successful at a job interview
• Maintain healthy relationships
• Live independently

Located in Tacoma, Washington, Bayview Center’s mission is to offer clinically-driven programs and services to treat a number of substance abuse disorders along with anxiety and depression. We use cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical-behavioral therapy, trauma therapy, yoga therapy, and more for a successful recovery. For more information, please call us at 855.478.3650, as we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.