Hey there, it's Sanjay. A quick word about my voice. You may notice that it's a bit

hoarsely. I suffer from spring allergies like everyone else. I'm doing okay, but you

can definitely hear the little raspiness. So if you have any suggestions for me, the

doctor, please send them along. I feel fine. I don't have COVID. Just wanted you to be

aware.

Hi, Sanjay. My name is Joe Berlanga. I am a second grade teacher. I've been teaching

for 17 years, and I have pretty extreme social anxiety. I just will do everything I can

to not be in a group setting. And so I've noticed that as I've gotten older, it's progressively

gotten worse. We got this voicemail in response to a recent callout. Joe is a listener from

Arkansas. And despite her anxiety, she was actually named Teacher of the Year in her school

district in 2018. We were really moved by her story, so we gave her a call back to learn

more about her experiences with social anxiety.

You wouldn't think it at all just because I'm around kids all day, and I'm kind of forced

to just mingle and mix and communicate and socialize.

Most of us do feel nervous in social settings from time to time. But for Joe, it goes way

beyond that.

Definitely my heart is racing. My whole body is hot. My thoughts are not straight. I cannot

speak clearly. Yeah, it's all of just my nerves. I mean, they're just going full throttle,

and I don't know how to contain it or calm it down. I just try to breathe through it.

But the funny thing is this, when she's in front of her second grade students, I'm normal.

I show it every day. I come in. The kids are familiar with a routine. I'm used to a

routine. And so everything is pretty normal and calm and consistent.

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