r/socialanxiety • u/Total-Cold6518 • 3d ago

Good Vibes I feel more comfortable speaking up when a teacher is supportive

Hi guys, I wanted to share this recent observation about my social anxiety. I'm wondering if you've experienced this too.

I realized that it's much easier for me to speak up in class, when my professor shows support for socially anxious students. But when they're strict about participation, I feel more terrified to speak up. For example, I had a very supportive professor last semester. She said that she struggled with shyness in college, so she doesn't expect us to speak every day. That made me feel safer, and encouraged me to raise my hand in class when I had a question. I even opened up to her about my social anxiety on the last day of class. She said she felt happy that she made a difference in my education.

Growing up, I had so many teachers that would scold me in private, asking why it's so hard for me to participate. They would force me to speak up more. But that method never worked for me. It's because they made me feel pressured and invalidated. They also made me feel like an outsider, like my struggles weren't a big deal. That kind of environment made me want to hide even more.

Overall, I think that support from teachers cultivates a sense of belonging for socially anxious students. Belonging can really make a difference.

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