Hi everyone,
I stumbled upon this article where 4 women describe their experiences with social anxiety at work.
This description really stood out to me and I wanted to share it, in case it feels relatable:
I have to consciously push myself every day to come out of my shell and take on uncomfortable situations having to do with social interactions.
I'm always afraid to share ideas or speak up when I have something to add to a work conversation.
I overthink almost every word that comes out of my mouth, and I am terrified that I won't measure up as a professional in my field of work.
The best description I can provide of my experience is that I have a tendency to overanalyze every single social interaction and second-guess my every movement.
One of the key beliefs we have in this community is that feeling seen and not alone is one of the first steps toward overcoming social anxiety.
Experiences like the one above are normal and common.
There is no need to be ashamed about it and there is evidence-based help available that can help you shift out of patterns like that.
If you feel seen by this description, or if there's another way you experience social anxiety at work, I encourage you to share it in the comments below!
Self-awareness and self-understanding are the first steps towards overcoming the grip that anxiety has on our lives.