Hundreds of millions of people worldwide have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or related mood or mental health issue. The majority of those diagnosed or struggling with an anxiety disorder don’t receive treatment or have access to the information, treatment, or tools they need during their journey to recovery. Read more ›
It can be difficult to know the difference between having social anxiety and being awkward, introverted, or shy. The American Psychological Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines social anxiety as “a persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations” that involve being “exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others.”
Modern life provides us with constant opportunities to be scrutinized by others, and while few among us wouldn’t be nervous about giving a work presentation or a speech at a wedding, an ongoing fear of saying the wrong thing in casual conversations can become problematic. Conversation anxiety, though not itself a disorder, is an aspect of social anxiety that can make dates, parties, and mixers anywhere from mildly stressful to intolerable. Read more ›
As children, it can often be difficult to effectively communicate what we’re feeling.
What’s wrong with me?
Can’t we stay home?
Don’t leave me.
We might think whatever’s going on in our head is “normal,” so asking for help never even crosses our minds. Or maybe because we didn’t quite understand what was going on, we did the best we could in those moments of struggle to “reach out” in our own little ways. Read more ›
