Your personal experiences of feeling socially anxious, shy and not good enough and how this has affected your lives. Sharing your stories about how you have been stretching your comfort zones and growing confidence to move through anxious feelings to live a life aligned with who you really are.
Some comments from school stay with you for years. One person who took part in our research remembered parents’ evenings where teacher after teacher said much the same thing: they were doing well, but needed to speak more in class. Another remembered getting good grades while school reports kept returning to how quiet they were…
There’s something grounding about stepping into a gallery space filled with artwork that invites you to slow down and look more closely. That’s exactly what you’ll find at the current exhibition by Quiet Connector Michael Mules at Penwith Framing Gallery in Penzance. Michael’s creative work offers a reflection of his quiet, thoughtful way of being…
Throughout history, women have often been expected to be outspoken and assertive to be seen as strong. But quiet strength is just as powerful. On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the many introverted, sensitive, and thoughtful women who have made a difference—not by being the loudest in the room, but by embracing their quiet nature…
Florence Welch, the lead vocalist of the indie rock band Florence + The Machine, is renowned for her powerful voice and ethereal presence. Her music, characterised by its emotional depth and haunting melodies, has captivated audiences worldwide. However, behind her dynamic performances, Welch has struggled with social anxiety and mental health challenges that have deeply…
Eighteen years ago, I reached a moment where the pain felt unbearable. Aged eighteen, I believed there was no way forward, no space for me in this world. The weight of expectations, unspoken fears, and the feeling of not belonging had become overwhelming. But somehow, I am still here. In the years since that suicide…
Hello, I am Zoe Zalick – Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), musician, teacher, voice coach, sci-fi fan and lover of cats, coasts and campervans. I spend most of my days using my voice and helping others to use theirs so people don’t always realise that as a young adult I was painfully shy and struggled to…
I remember, in the first few weeks of secondary school sitting on the stairs crying at the idea that I had to keep doing this secondary school thing for the next 7 years. I said something like “secondary school is school with all the fun zapped out of it”. It was all grades, grades, grades…
When we think of Chris Evans, most of us picture him as the fearless and charismatic Captain America. However, behind the superhero persona, Chris Evans has openly shared his experiences of being a quieter person with experiences of shyness and social anxiety, revealing a side of himself that many of us can relate to. In…
From a young age, I was defined in the eyes of many by one word –Quiet. I remember being around 7 or 8 years old and doing an exercise where we were given photos of ourselves stuck in the middle of a blank page and other students had to write characteristics that describe us around…
At the first Million Mile May clean on Perranporth Beach, Quiet Connections Community Coordinator Michele caught up with Surfers Against Sewage to explore connection between environment and mental health. This interview was first published on SAS.org.uk. Hi, I’m Michele from Quiet Connections, and today, I support people who see themselves as quieter, more sensitive or…
Meet Laura, a member of our Quiet Connections community who, like many, once felt overwhelmed by the thought of socialising, stepping into new situations, or facing the anxiety that came with them. She often found herself retreating in fear, unsure of how to navigate the world outside her comfort zone. One of the things that…
One of our favourite things about running a programme like Socially Anxious to Quietly Confident (which runs online twice a year) is seeing our Quieteers grow and achieve things they once didn’t think possible. It’s one thing to tell you about our personal stories on the path from social anxiety to quiet confidence, but you really…