#Social Anxiety

Recent discussions on social anxiety bring attention to an often-overlooked component: our perception of time. The notion that “time flies when you’re having fun” has deeper scientific roots than is immediately apparent. This understanding can offer new ways to address social anxiety, particularly as it relates to how we perceive time during social interactions. A Hungarian study published in 2023 in Nature Scientific Reports highlights the differing perceptions of time across age groups, revealing how young children perceive time in a more eventful context, while adults see uneventful moments as longer. This disparity has implications for how we, as adults, experience social situations.

Hayley Atwell, widely recognized for her role as Peggy Carter in Marvel’s universe, recently shared how a simple yet effective technique suggested by Tom Cruise significantly alleviated her social anxiety while working on the set of Mission: Impossible. Tom Cruise, known for his multifaceted talents, provided Atwell with a mantra to combat anxiety: confront the source head-on rather than retreating into fear. His advice—“If you’re scared of something, just keep looking at it”—proved to be transformative for Atwell, as it allowed her to dissect and understand her anxieties rather than being overwhelmed by them.