She works in the film and arts industry, but in a crowd she is wary, her shoulders tense. For freelance writer Neelakshi Singh, social anxiety is a real and present condition, affecting her life both socially and professionally. Singh is not alone (though she wants to be) — social anxiety affects more people than we may realise. You may see a sufferer in a train, huddled into a corner if they are lucky to get a seat. Or someone focusing on their shoes rather than the scene around them.

As Singh puts it, “I’m always alert, trying not to inconvenience anyone — whether that’s in the subway or a classroom.” Raised in a body that, she felt, did not match beauty norms, she developed social anxiety early on. “I felt under a constant spotlight,” she said. Even in small groups, a passing comment could trigger an anxious spiral. Social anxiety lurks in the pauses of everyday interactions — raising your hand in class, answering a phone call, making small talk with strangers. For us Gen Z, these moments can feel like being in a pressure cooker. A 2024 report by the US-based National Social Anxiety Center found that 60 per cent of Gen Z experienced stress and social anxiety.