I’ll never forget how nervous I was my first night playing poker at a casino in Atlantic City. My heart pounded a mile a minute, my fingers sweat onto the cards, and my hands shook like maracas every time I pushed chips into the pot. I was afraid to win a hand because I didn’t know how to tip the dealer. I was so scared, I folded pocket kings before the flop. My fear cost me money. The other guy only had jacks. I was a better player than that. Continue reading
When I was six, I thought there were nails in meat, so I refused to touch it. I watched Popeye get strong from eating spinach, but I’d have rather been weak than eat disgusting green leaves. I ate pizza every single day for most of my life. Yeah, you could say I was a picky eater. Continue reading
Franklin D. Roosevelt is famous for saying, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” However, the President’s wife had many great quotes of her own, dealing with the same subject matter: fear and anxiety. Eleanor Roosevelt was, “A shy, awkward child, starved for recognition and love,” yet she grew into, “One of the most outspoken women to live in the White House.” That didn’t mean the former First Lady stopped feeling fear and anxiety. She merely learned how to overcome her fear, and the following quotes explain how she did just that. Continue reading
Many times throughout my life, I’d find myself listening to others having a conversation. Either at school or work, my friends or coworkers would be talking about something. Perhaps a hot topic in the news, for instance, Donald Trump running for president. They might be having a political argument about Trump’s merits as a candidate. Or they might simply be making jokes about him. Then, after noticing that I’d been silent throughout the conversation, they would want to include me. They’d ask me what I think about Donald Trump. And I’d freeze. Continue reading
Many writers complain about writer’s block, but that’s never really been a problem for me. I have so much stuff I want to write, but not enough time to write it. I suffer from the opposite of writer’s block— writer’s guilt. Continue reading
I know what you’re thinking. Exposure? That’s it? It sounds so simple, it’s almost dismissive. There’s no way exposure will cure my social anxiety… I know that’s what you’re thinking because I used to think the same thing. Continue reading
Franz Kafka is often cited as a famous figure who suffered from social anxiety. Kafka was never officially diagnosed with social anxiety disorder during his lifetime, as such a diagnosis didn’t technically exist yet. The social anxiety speculation comes from Kafka’s personal diaries and letters. I’ve already written about the themes of social anxiety present in Kafka’s novella, The Metamorphosis, but if you still have any doubts as to whether or not the author actually had social anxiety disorder, look no further than these following quotes of his. Continue reading
I had driven across the country, from New York to Florida to California. My dream had come true— one small part of it, at least. I was in Los Angeles, but I still had to actually find a place to live. Continue reading
There’s a reason I haven’t written many blog posts over the past month. I haven’t had much time to write during that time because I was moving. Not just moving across town, moving across the country. From New York to Los Angeles. Continue reading
I used to suffer from occasional insomnia. Especially on nights before a big event I was nervous about, like my first day at school or a big trip. I would get in bed early so I’d be fresh and rested for the big day. I’d lay down and close my eyes, but I couldn’t fall asleep. My mind was racing. I couldn’t stop thinking.What will this new school be like? Will I make any new friends? Will I still be shy? I didn’t realize at the time that my insomnia was related to my social anxiety. Continue reading
T.Z. Barry 