Anxiety Quote by Anja Owona Okoa
““At that moment my shyness and anxiety all flooded back and I took a few steps back, and then sank to the ground; crouching, overwhelmed, covering my face. ‘What will he think? What if he already hates me? Maybe I was wrong in the first place? Maybe he didn’t like me at all.’ No matter how much I tried, I wasn’t able to produce a single positive thought to counter my panic. I wasn’t able to take a deep breath and relax. This day had been too eventful. I began to shake furiously, afraid of what was to come. ‘He hates me! He hates me!’ I thought over and over. Hot tears began to fall down my cheeks and I squeezed my eyes trying to stop them. My breathing quickened. What was I doing? I had said what I wanted, proudly, trying to be something to him but here I was: a total mess. ‘What kind of a confession ends in a panic attack? GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!’ I thought furiously, my efforts rewarded with futility. The world started to spin, my mouth becoming numb for reasons I couldn’t understand, almost as if to prevent me from panicking aloud. As if I had the friggin’ courage.””
About This Quote
Source Personal narrative (unknown)
Social anxiety triggers catastrophic thoughts, physical panic, and self‑critical loops that impair functioning.
In simple terms: Anxiety creates overwhelming negative thoughts and physical symptoms.
Practice grounding and self‑compassion to break panic cycles.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- social interactions
- public speaking
- therapy sessions
- self‑help practice
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What grounding technique helps you?
- How can you reframe self‑critical thoughts?
Recovery requires time and support; not all panic episodes resolve quickly.