Social anxiety

Articles on social anxiety: the fear of being judged at work, at parties and in everyday moments, how it differs from shyness, and what helps. They're for anyone whose fear of being watched is costing them things they care about.

Nigerian social life has its own pressure points. At an owambe there's the MC calling out names, being pulled out to dance, greeting elders, photos for social media, and questions about marriage, children and work. At the office it can be a short update in a meeting or a call with a senior colleague. Preferring smaller gatherings isn't a disorder. Social anxiety is when fear of being judged makes you avoid things, or get through them with dread.

Start with social anxiety: more than just being shy, then read about parties and owambes or meetings and presentations.

The usual treatment is talking therapy, especially CBT designed for social anxiety. You can find licensed therapists who work with anxiety on Mytherapist.ng. If speaking feels like too much at first, you can start by chat.