Imagine you're not just shy, but actually debilitatingly paralyzed at the thought of interacting with other people. That's what Russell Norris describes when he talks about his journey with social anxiety. He's the author of “Red Face: How I Learned to Live With Social Anxiety” and my guest today. We go through a fascinating discussion to learn more about what his struggle was really like and some of the strategies that he tried and found successful and some that maybe didn't work so well in his journey to be able to live successfully with this challenge. It was a fascinating discussion and I urge you to not only listen to our conversation today but also to check out his book. It's a wonderful picture of this challenge, which afflicts many, many people, and is also useful for anybody looking to build self-regulation skills.

After battling social anxiety for years, Russell Norris became an exec at a leading advertising agency in London. He is an author and a UX Copy Director at Fast Radius, a leading cloud manufacturing and digital supply chain company, however, his experience with words has spanned across many sectors. He's married, with two children – and Red Face was his first non-fiction book.

CHAPTERS

00:07:52 The value of a diagnosis

00:12:30 The impact of trauma and stress

00:15:30 Turning to alcohol

00:21:20 Beta blockers to Russell's rescue

00:22:40 The calming power of exercise

00:24:00 Self-acceptance is healing

00:27:30 No quick fix...except maybe children 

00:30:31 What part has bravery played?

00:32:49 The challenge of speaking up

00:37:03 Introversion versus social anxiety

00:38:10 Men not talking about mental health

LINKS

Happy Space Podcast ep. 14 - Managing Anxiety with a Mindset Coach - with Paul Sheppard

IMAGE CREDITS (see images on Youtube video)

Red Face cover - credit Russell Norris

Erythrophobia - credit Clare Kumar

Paul Sheppard, mindset coach, ep 14 - credit Paul Sheppard

Book Cover The Myth of Normal - credit Goodreads

Gabor Mate - credit website

Clare's book club - Clare Kumar

Learn more about and follow guest(s):

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Highly sensitive executive coach and productivity catalyst, Clare Kumar, explores the intersection of productivity and inclusivity continually asking how can we invite the richest contribution from all. She coaches individuals in sidestepping burnout and cultivating sustainable performance, and inspires leaders to design inclusive performance thereby inviting teams to reach their full potential. As a speaker, Clare mic-drops “thought balms” in keynotes and workshops, whether virtual or in-person. She invites connection through her online community committed to designing sustainable and inclusive performance, the Happy Space Pod. Why? Because everyone deserves a Happy Space.

Believing that productivity is personal, the podcast is produced in a variety of formats so you can enjoy it in the medium you prefer:

Listen to the audio right here or on your fave podcast platform.

If you prefer to  watch video, check out the episode on YouTube.

If you prefer to read, please see the transcript below.

Ready to learn more, or want to find out more about coaching with Clare or hiring her for your next engaging event? Contact Clare here.

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If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a heartfelt review as this will help other listeners discover the podcast.  Please invite your colleagues, friends, and family to listen as well. Together we can design a more inclusive world where everyone can make their richest contribution.

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And don't forget, everyone (including YOU) deserves a Happy Space. 😊

CREDITS

Audio and Video Editing: To Be Reel

Production Assistant: Luis Rodriguez

Song Credit: Cali by WatR. from Pixabay