03
It’s Too Peoply Outside
Why did I say that?... everyone is staring at me… omg my voice is shaking… I knew the answer to that question, why didn’t I say anything? These indexed words are a brief look into the mind of someone with social anxiety (aka my mind). Strangely though, whilst social anxiety has a high prevalence in university students (47% mild social anxiety and 25% diagnosed) there is a weird barrier around people actually recognising someone around you has social anxiety and not introversion (where a person is reclusive because they’ve chosen to be). Social anxiety is where a person (me) finds it difficult to act like myself in a normal setting, as the entire time I’m wandering do they even like who I actually am?
Social anxiety in university students (47% mild social anxiety & 25% diagnosed)
Thus, when it comes to social settings at university and basically the most popular (and the only way really) option to make friends is to attend parties. Which means loud music, drinking and crowds. For some, what I just described is the highlight of their time at university, meanwhile for me environments such as this makes my bones tremor (and not in excitement).