As students, we have so many exams to take, it gets to the point that we’re almost reciting revision in our sleep. There’s so much to do and be ready for! I have my own kind of ritual whenever I first sit down for each exam. I recite a little phrase over and over in…
There was a time not so long ago when all I wanted to do was change everything about myself. There was no particular reason for this, nothing I could pinpoint or put my finger on anyway. There was just a nagging self doubt that lingered relentlessly. I thought that if I changed the way I looked, changed my…
Do you worry about coming back to an untidy home? Do you feel like mess and unorganised chaos gets you down? Tidiness is one of my huge bug bears. For myself, cleaning is about maintaining control. I am constantly accused of being anal but that’s fine by me. As long as my home is clean…
As soon as I read the description for Quiet Connections and their volunteer role, it struck a chord and resonated with me. It immediately stood out from other voluntary roles. As someone who has experienced self-esteem, shyness and social anxiety issues, I wanted to get involved in any way I could. I find it refreshing…
Yarn Bombing the action or activity of covering objects or structures in public places with decorative knitted or crocheted material, as a form of street art. Yarn bombing Truro might not seem like a very ‘Quiet’ thing to do. It certainly didn’t feel like it as Stacie climbed onto Gemma’s knee, stretching up a lamppost…
Feelings of anxiety often stem from a lack of control over uncontrollable aspects of situations. Thinking I need to be able to control everything to ensure that I don’t feel anxious is often what fuels the anxious feelings. Having grown up referring to this as the ‘vicious circle’, I have realised that whilst I recognise…
No one should feel alone, broken and ashamed, like I did. I remember how I felt like there was something really wrong with me. I was afraid to do anything that would put me at the centre of attention and open me up to judgement. I expected negative judgement from anyone who saw or heard…
It’s like there’s a yoyo inside my head rocking back and forth. Dizzy. I’m in my first year of sixth form when I notice it. Completely out of the blue. What’s wrong with me? I’m going to countless GP appointments, having tests for diabetes, blood pressure checks and a referral to an ENT doctor. No…
We’re bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 raised from carrier bag sales in Tesco stores awarded to local community projects. Quiet Connections is one of three groups shortlisted to receive the cash award at Tesco Camborne throughout March and April….
Imagine an excited, little 11 year old armed with a huge backpack and her two best friends on her first day of secondary school. We’re lucky enough that one of my friend’s older sister is already at the school, and she shows us to our tutor room. Naturally, I’m nervous, but I think everyone is…
‘Are you an introvert or an extrovert?’ Introversion and extroversion are concepts that are often seen as extremes: for example, when someone says they are extroverted, the image that comes to mind is someone who is confident and thrives in social situations, whereas introversion is often painted as the opposite. I’ve always struggled with this…
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…