9 doodles of what social anxiety feels like
Doodles by a counselor, a clinical psychologist, and an illustrator on what social anxiety feels like.
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
Published on:
Ian Chew, MHFA
As part of my journey to overcome social anxiety, I also cold emailed top entrepreneurs and leaders. At first, I had tons of rejections — well, no one responded! As I got better at the art of outreach however, I ended up working with people like Eben Pagan, Michael Simmons (Inc. 30 Under 30), and Amir Ahmad Nasr (coach to 9-figure CEOs), ultimately helping them reach tens of millions of people online.
For my work and projects, I've been featured by top media outlets including Fortune, CBC, Inc. Magazine, and Canadian Geographic. I also did a TEDx speech on my experience talking with strangers (link below).
I started Deeper Conversations to share everything I've learned — and am learning — about communication and relationships.
(Here's the full back story on why I created the site.)
Education
Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) at Mount Allison University
Certifications
- Social Anxiety Disorder Comprehensive Training Course, PESI
- 2-Day Certificate Course: CBT For Anxiety, PESI
- ACT for Depression & Anxiety Disorders, Psychwire
- Rewire the Anxious Brain: Neuroscience-Informed Treatment of Anxiety, Panic and Worry, PESI
- The Power Of Awareness, Greater Good Science Center - University of California, Berkeley
- Psychological First Aid, John Hopkins University
- Mental Health First Aid, Malaysian Mental Health Association
Media features
- Inc. Magazine: Want to Win People's Trust? This TEDx Speaker Says Do This 1 Thing | Inc.com
- TEDxMoncton: What I learned from 700 interviews in three years | Ian Chew
- CBC: Humans of Sackville
Latest articles
The Anxious Perfectionist Book Summary: Top 3 Insights
Michael Twohig, PhD, is a psychology professor, and he has authored/co-authored more than 200 research papers…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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The Four Noble Truths of Love book summary: 3 profound insights
If you’re socially anxious and you want to date — or you are dating — you might love this book like I did…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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26 weird conversation starters: “What would life be like without…”
Conversation starters are the most fun when you experiment. Here’s a list of imaginative, quirky questions to throw someone for a loop 🙂
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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Research: 3 surprising benefits of social anxiety
“A socially anxious person is very likely a person yearning to connect with others. You hurt where you care…” – Dr. Steven C. Hayes
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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Research: Social anxiety increases perfectionism. Why that can be a problem.
Perfectionistic thoughts are almost always judgmental, harsh, and even angry. According to therapists, here’s what you can do about them…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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Overcoming Anticipatory Anxiety Book Summary: 3 Insights
With 80 years of combined experience as therapists, Sally M. Winston, PsyD, and Martin N. Seif, PhD, have a lot to share…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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‘Barbie’ might be the movie of the year for social anxiety
Barbie is actually a movie about mental health, specifically our social anxiety around “not good enough”…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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Rejection Proof Book Summary: 4 Powerful Insights
While Jia Jiang isn’t a psychologist, he has a wealth of real-world experience. He started a blog, 100 Days of Rejection Therapy, to face his fear of getting rejected…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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I said hi to 50 strangers in 30 minutes. Here’s what I learned
It was a lot more uncomfortable and enlightening than I thought. Four things I learned…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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The Solution To Social Anxiety Book Summary: 3 Powerful Insights
This was the first self-help book on social anxiety that I got, and when I reread it recently, here are three insights…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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How To Be Yourself Book Summary: 4 Powerful Insights
Not only did Dr. Ellen Hendriksen complete her training at Harvard Medical School, she is also a faculty member at Boston University’s Center for Anxiety…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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Dating Without Fear Book Summary: 3 Powerful Insights
When it comes to helping people work through their dating anxiety, Dr. Thomas Smithyman is one of the best experts out there…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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43 identity conversation starters: “Who am I without…”
How well do you know yourself, really? Ask yourself these questions and find out.
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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12 relatable songs about social anxiety to help you heal
Given the power of music, here’s a list of songs that I curated with the help of multiple therapists.
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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Why am I so bad at talking to people?
I’ve asked myself this question so many times. Here’s the truth I realized…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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Can teletherapy work for social anxiety? Yes (what you should know)
Research shows that teletherapy is just as effective as in-person therapy. But here’s what you do need to know…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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26 famous people who opened up about social anxiety
Even ultra-successful people like Ed Sheeran, Gandhi, and Barbra Streisand have social anxiety. You’re not alone!
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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Avoidance: how it makes social anxiety worse
Excessive avoidance is a hallmark of social anxiety disorder. But here’s what a lot of people miss…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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Why do I rehearse conversations before they happen?
Just how helpful is mental rehearsal in communication or social situations? Here’s what the research says…
Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA
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