Member's Stories

I struggled with social anxiety for a long time. Even ordering pizza by phone was an ordeal. Before dialing in to the pizzeria, my hands would start sweating and I would take a few deep breaths. As I waited, many thoughts would run through my mind. “One large Hawaiian, one medium Pepperoni…wait, was it the other way around? And what about drinks? Right, sprite! But wait, what size sprite did mom want? Oh no, I forgot to ask…”

By this point, if the guy picked up, I would hang up immediately in a panic. I was not able to face a stranger without all the information on hand. This type of social anxiety was debilitating. With each new interaction, I would get more frustrated at myself for not responding as fast or as competently as I wanted others to perceive me. I felt like a basket case all the time.