Social Anxiety & Building Community

In this episode, Michelle Connolly shares her personal journey with social anxiety, community-building, and overcoming fears related to social situations. She offers practical tools and insights, making this a valuable listen for anyone facing similar challenges.Key Topics:The complexity of social anxiety and its physical and emotional symptomsMichelle’s experiences moving to Arizona and adapting to a new communityThe difference between everyday nervousness and social anxiety disorderPractical mindfulness techniques like the 3-3-3 rule for grounding during anxious momentsThe reality of making adult friends and building community as an introvertPersonal reflections on attending social events with social anxiety and lessons learnedThe importance of authenticity, transparency, and self-compassion in social strugglesResources for social anxiety, including content creators and professional supportThanks for joining this honest conversation about social anxiety. Remember, you're not alone, and support is available!As always... I'm Rooting for you💕Get connected TODAYMichelle:[email protected]/coremotivations_coachYoutubeMichelle - YouTubeFree Enneagram assessment https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/Don’t forget to connect with Michelle to help you with those results and book a (free) 30 min meet and greethttps://calendar.app.google/RTu4pSag6PBBLWe97Groupshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/az/glendale?category=anxietyMeetup in your areahttps://www.meetup.com/find/us--az--phoenix/social-anxiety/Find help where you arehttps://socialanxietyinstitute.org/My fav content creator for navigating life with anxiety https://www.youtube.com/@morganevelyncook/videosCounselor Search for your areahttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapistsTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction and overview of today's real talk on social anxiety00:29 - Michelle's experience of recording the podcast multiple times01:26 - Exploring social anxiety: fears around new places and people02:11 - Moving to Arizona and adjusting to a new environment03:11 - The challenges and beauty of desert life, including cactus facts07:13 - The importance of community and the difficulty of building it08:09 - The conflict between wanting community and fearing social situations09:10 - Personal struggles with social anxiety and depression10:08 - Recounting her experience with social events and attempts at forming friendships13:16 - The anxiety leading up to social events and her honest reflections14:17 - Attending the movie "The Devil Wears Prada 2" as a social activity15:07 - Defining social anxiety and its physical symptoms15:36 - The impact of social anxiety on daily routines and relationships16:43 - The internal conflict of avoiding or facing social situations17:42 - The experience of attending a candle and soap-making event19:38 - The social dynamics and uncomfortable moments during the activity21:29 - The lack of connection and feeling of being unseen22:56 - Understanding social anxiety through research and expert insights23:18 - The difference between normal nervousness and social anxiety disorder24:23 - The importance of coping skills and potential treatments25:39 - Reflecting on the desire for connection versus the reality of social fears27:13 - Introducing the 3-3-3 grounding technique for social anxiety28:12 - How to practice the 3-3-3 rule and its benefits29:41 - Encouragement to share coping strategies and support others31:03 - The idea of social anxiety groups and community resources32:21 - Managing overthinking and avoidance behaviors33:48 - Finding inspiration from content creator Morgan Evelyn Cook34:16 - The role of therapy, coaching, and healthy coping mechanisms34:46 - Closing thoughts and gratitude35:15 - Legal disclaimer and podcast purpose35:57 - Invitation to follow and share the podcast with others