Social Anxiety Doesn’t Make You Awkward

Social anxiety isn’t shyness. It’s the fear of being judged, embarrassed, misunderstood, or rejected. It makes normal interactions feel overwhelming. Your heart races, your mind blanks, your body tenses — all while you’re trying to look normal.

Teens experience this strongly because you're constantly comparing yourself, constantly observed, constantly performing. It’s exhausting.

The fear isn’t irrational — it’s protective. Your brain is trying to prevent emotional harm. But sometimes it overreacts to safe situations.

You are not weird for feeling anxious. You are not broken. You are adjusting to a world that often feels too fast and too demanding.

With gentle exposure and self-kindness, this gets better. One step at a time.