We live with the constant belief that we must be on display, all the time. And perhaps it stems from the fact that we are on display, all the time. Some days I have the desire to be on display, other days, most of the time, I fear it, loathe it, am embarrassed by it.

Keeping these intense emotions locked in the cave of my mind evokes a sudden urge for my body to escape: to free myself from the blistering stares of everyone around me. Avoidance from the cruelty of social anxiety feels sweet in the moment, like a lolly after a long run, an instant relief from overwhelming symptoms.

A personal essay that focuses on our fight-or-flight response and what happens when our bodies freeze.

Moving away from home or out of home can be daunting so I’ve decided to write about my own experiences moving across the Pacific to Los Angeles, hoping to spread ways in which us introverts or anxious-prone peoples can safely navigate the land of extroverts.