To mark the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, a panel discussion bringing together professionals from the field of health and wellbeing in Cornwall was held at The Museum of Cornish Life in Helston as part of the “I was, I am, I will be” exhibition that Quiet Connections developed in collaboration with the museum,…
![The Social Anxiety Report: Key Insights [2018]](https://quietconnections.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Social-Anxiety-Report-768x512.jpg)
The 2018 Knowledge Exchange Report produced by Unlocking Potential in collaboration with Quiet Connections provides a comprehensive analysis of social anxiety (and related conditions), including its prevalence and impacts, at a local, regional and national level. This article summarises some of the most important and surprising aspects of the report, shedding light on this often-misunderstood…
When you experience social anxiety, social gatherings can seem endlessly daunting, and it can often feel as though the safest option is to gracefully bow out and avoid such situations. I know this because I have done it countless times, and I know I probably will do it at least a few more times in…
![How self-help books can help you with social anxiety [with recommendations]](https://quietconnections.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/How-self-help-books-can-help-you-with-social-anxiety-768x512.jpg)
An unexpected prescription for social anxiety When I went to see my GP, it wasn’t solely focused on social anxiety, but the feeling of anxiety overall. It was only upon describing my symptoms and experiences that we found ourselves discussing social anxiety specifically. As I’m sure we’re all aware, there’s no direct ‘cure’ for social…
In this post, I’ll be sharing my top tips for supporting someone when they’re feeling socially anxious, from the perspective of someone who has experienced social anxiety myself. 1. Avoid blame and shame If the person is a friend or family member, avoid blaming and shaming them for what you may at first perceive as…
Take a look at the other side of confident comedian, Rhod Gilbert, in his documentary “Stand Up to Shyness” and see how stand up boosts the confidence of his three volunteers. Stand-up comedian Rhod Gilbert is painfully shy. Yes, he can stand up in front of 20,000 people and make them laugh but he finds it…
People often have a perception of what anxiety is and how someone who is experiencing social anxiety may present themselves. There is a stigma attached to the word anxiety which suggests it would be obvious if someone was feeling that way; that it would be evident and noticeable. This couldn’t be further from the truth….
Talking about our self-doubt and our anxieties in social situations is still taboo. We tend to think we should be able to do certain things, like talk to strangers and speak up, just because other people seem to manage with ease. It can feel like we’re the only person struggling. Then there’s the stigma we experience when…
How did you choose what to do after school? Did you choose a-levels based on a career path you wanted to take? Took a subject you enjoyed perhaps? Did you study as many subjects at college as you could to keep your options open? Not me. Following the herd I knew I didn’t like a…
My dear friends, How are you? It seems like an age since we last spoke, and even longer since I last saw you. I understand that you must see me as a terrible friend. I hardly make time to see you anymore. I don’t seem to start conversations on messenger. I rarely text or give…
![How yoga can grow your confidence [Free ‘Yoga for Social Anxiety’ video]](https://quietconnections.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Yoga-can-help-with-social-anxiety-768x511.jpg)
“Leave your ego at the door” Lizzi gently reminds us as we settle onto our yoga mats. There’s no place for perfectionism here; that isn’t what yoga is about. But for so many of us that’s exactly what has stopped us from trying in the past, isn’t it? We’re scared we won’t get it right….
Don’t call my child shy I know, I know; it’s so easy to do, right? Every parent wants to raise a confident child. Yet, you say hello to a child and he buries his face in his mummy’s shoulder. The next words that come out of your mouth are something like “Aww he’s shy” or “You…