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MENTAL HEALTH STORIES
Living With Social Anxiety: What’s It Like?
How my battle with social anxiety has shaped my life and how I’ve been learning to cope better
The thought of interacting with other people makes my heart race, my blood pump faster, and my hands tremble. I hold my breath by instinct, dreading the idea of meeting up with someone.
Each social interaction feels like a chore. My mind pleads with me desperately, begging me to cancel the event. It only wants to stay in its safe and familiar environment — alone at home where no one can see and judge me.
Social anxiety has shaped nearly every decision of my life. It defines how I act and the words I speak. More often than not, it has kept me from living.
A daily struggle with myself
Strangely enough, I’m actually a very social person with a high desire for deep social interaction. Even though I try to avoid people I crave to connect with them.
This is why social anxiety causes a struggle for me every day as if I’m fighting myself. I wasn’t always aware of it. In fact, I’ve only recently discovered how much I need socialization to have a fulfilling life.
