Episode 78 — Dealing with Social Anxiety In the Real World —with Mike Swenson

To go into the real world and fend for yourself as an emerging adult is one thing. To go into the real world, let alone college with social anxiety is a whole other ball game. Mike Swenson, Clinical Director at The Recovery Academy, battled with high social anxiety as a young adult. His social anxiety caused him to avoid college and decide to join the marine court instead. Mike’s time in the marine court allowed him to gain a new perspective on life and gain life experiences that brought him back to college with a new mindset. Though with that, he also brought back baggage that he struggled to cope with. Mike managed to go through undergrad in a matter of 2 years even while struggling to cope. It wasn’t until he found a job at an addiction center where he was really able to work with his mental health instead of against it. Mike now finds himself at Recovery Academy where he helps men dealing with addiction and mental healthOn this episode of Success is Subjective, Mike joins Joanna to share his experience going from barely being able to step foot on a campus, to getting a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree. Mike’s challenging experiences with his anxiety, the marines and academics all molded his unique perspective on life and a passion that his younger self wouldn’t have been able to fathom. Listen in for insight on Mike’s inspiring story as he dealt with the realities of life as a young adult and how he now works to share his story to help others.What You Will LearnCollege not being talked about growing up and just being expected Having high social anxiety Choosing to join the marines instead of college because it seemed less scary for Mike and his anxietyWhat the Marine Corps taught Mike and how it shifted his social anxiety Experiencing a different culture while being deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan and the identity crisis that Mike had during thatLeaving the Marine Corps and dealing with the impact of war while in collegeHow Mike decided his major based on his social anxietyHow having a lived in experience before college made Mike more hard working and engaged in classFinishing undergrad in 2 years even while struggling with coping with PTSDThe goal isn’t to get rid of your social anxiety, but to have one win a dayConnect with Mike SwensonThe Recovery AcademyEmail [email protected] with Joanna Lilley  Lilley ConsultingLilley Consulting on Instagram Lilley Consulting on Facebook Sponsored by: College Parent Survival NetworkEmail [email protected]