ADHD and Social Anxiety
You just want to be honest and authentic. But many people feel uncomfortable being real.
It’s confusing - is it you or is it them? You always felt weird and different.
In school, you were the theatre freak, the band geek, the excited over-talker.
The popular kids picked on you and your biggest crush never reciprocated interest.
Adulting required assimilating, but masking for muggles is a drain on your spirit.
Your inner teen wants to cosplay but you have no one to go to Comic Con with.
TikTok rabbit holes have you convinced that you’re neurodivergent.
You’re proud that you never fit in. But it hurts more than you’d like to admit.
“I’m a creep. I’m a weirdo. What am I doing here? I don’t belong here.” ~Radiohead
Is making friends scary?
You might be dealing with social anxiety if you:
were bullied as a kid. You carry fears from childhood that you’re “too much” and will be rejected.
have a critical sibling or parent. You avoid judgment by hiding your true self in your relationships.
worry about future events. You don’t want to come across as awkward when meeting new people.
ruminate after interactions. You second guess if you sounded weird or embarrassed yourself in public.
struggle with loneliness. You feel out of place in most social settings, so you stay home and isolate.
spiral “upside down” in conflict. You retreat to your lair when people are mad to avoid confrontation.
What if there was nothing wrong with you?
What if you’re too multifaceted to embrace conformity?
What if your quirks are really superpowers in disguise?
No one needs your sameness. We need your unique genius.
I provide therapy that embraces your differences.
How IFS Helps You Conquer Social Anxiety
IFS helps you see your inner child from the perspective of a loving adult. You get to be the buddy and give the pep talk that the younger you has always needed. You will take guided journeys back to vivid memories from your childhood and stand up to the school yard bullies. You will visit the inner teenager that was once an outcast and tell them that they’re cool. IFS is about integration of all parts of your personality so it is the ultimate unmasking. As you heal the memories that made you feel inadequate, you will start to feel like you fit in with yourself. This makes it easier to show up in your relationships with confidence. Your freak flag will wave even higher with pride.
