For many of us, social anxiety didn’t appear out of nowhere. It often starts at home. Maybe you had parents who worried too much, telling you “be careful” or “don’t embarrass yourself.” Maybe you were compared to others, or constantly reminded of your mistakes. None of this was meant to harm you, but it planted seeds: “Maybe I’m not capable enough. Maybe people are always judging me.”
Later in life, those seeds grow into overthinking. Suddenly every conversation feels like a test. A simple hello feels heavy. You replay what you said, wondering if you sounded weird. The truth? Most people are too busy with their own world to notice but your brain convinces you otherwise.
Social anxiety is not just shyness. It’s carrying old messages that your mind keeps repeating. The good news? What’s learned can also be unlearned. Step by step, you can challenge those thoughts. Even a small shift like reminding yourself “I don’t have to be perfect to be accepted” can create a huge difference over time.
You don’t need to become the life of the party. You just need to feel safe being yourself. And that’s possible.
I found an article that goes deeper into how childhood experiences shape social anxiety and what we can do to break free from it. Worth a read if this resonates with you:
Read the full article here