I Put on Social Armor to Cope With My Anxiety
As an anxious introvert, I’ve been wearing many layers of social armor. I unconsciously developed these behaviors to help me cope with my anxiety.
Ben Habib is a Lecturer in International Relations at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. Ben is an internationally published scholar with research interests in grassroots sustainability, environmental movements, and international climate politics, particularly in Northeast Asia and Australia. He has an interest in permaculture and the application of permaculture design principles to social and economic systems. Most recently, he has written about his experiences with anxiety, depression, introversion, and high sensitivity. You can read about his research, teaching, and community outreach activities on his blog.
As an anxious introvert, I’ve been wearing many layers of social armor. I unconsciously developed these behaviors to help me cope with my anxiety.
I am reflecting here on the worst public embarrassment of my career.