Former EastEnders Star Shona McGarty Reveals 'Little Devil' Social Anxiety Battle
Former EastEnders actress and I'm A Celebrity star Shona McGarty has opened up about her mental health struggles, describing social anxiety as a "little devil on my shoulder" and urging others to seek support. The performer, best known for playing Whitney Dean on the BBC soap opera, shared her battle with social anxiety that began during her teenage years, revealing how it impacted her personal and professional life.
Shona McGarty's Personal Struggle with Social Anxiety
Shona McGarty explained that she was a chatty child, but everything changed around age 15 when she became painfully self-aware. She started overthinking and struggling to hold conversations, even though talking was part of her job as an actress. Her social anxiety would occur when meeting new people, with colleagues, or at family gatherings, causing physical symptoms like a racing heart, sweaty hands, and sometimes feeling faint. She admitted to pretending to receive phone calls to leave social situations, and the comments from others labeling her as "shy" or "quiet" were particularly hurtful.
Discussing her current coping strategies, Shona revealed: "I'm worlds away from that level of panic now, because I've learned how to deal with it when it shows up. One thing that helps is imagining a little devil on my shoulder. I acknowledge it, and then I answer back: Thank you, but you're wrong. I'm in control. I'm safe. People aren't judging me; they're listening because they want to hear me speak." She emphasised the importance of open dialogue, stating that acknowledging social anxiety instead of fighting it can help, and many people feel the same way, making a problem shared a problem halved.
NHS Campaign to Raise Awareness and Support
Shona McGarty has shared her personal struggle to raise awareness and support a new NHS campaign, as reported by the Mirror. The initiative encourages individuals suffering from six common anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), to seek help by self-referring online at nhs.uk/talk. The NHS England campaign has also received backing from The Only Way Is Essex's Charlie King and former professional footballer Clarke Carlisle, who are sharing their experiences to encourage others to come forward.
Dr Adrian James, NHS England's National Medical Director for Mental Health and Neurodiversity, commented: "While it's encouraging that thousands more people facing mental health conditions are accessing NHS support than before the pandemic, we know that millions more could benefit from vital NHS talking therapies. This landmark new campaign is a critical step to ensuring that everyone struggling with challenging but very common conditions like anxiety and PTSD knows that there is support available to help them get on with their lives again." He added that through proven treatment and free NHS support, these conditions can be overcome to help people return to work, regain confidence, or feel back to their old selves in social situations.
Understanding Social Anxiety Disorder
The NHS describes social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, as a persistent and overwhelming fear of social situations. It's a common problem that usually starts during the teenage years and can be very distressing, having a big impact on life. Symptoms include:
- Worrying about everyday activities like meeting strangers or speaking on the phone
- Avoiding or worrying about social activities such as parties or group conversations
- Always worrying about doing something embarrassing, like blushing or sweating
- Finding it difficult to do things when others are watching, feeling judged
- Fear of criticism, avoiding eye contact, or having low self-esteem
- Physical symptoms like nausea, sweating, trembling, or palpitations
- Experiencing panic attacks with overwhelming fear and anxiety
Dr Ravi Gill, a health psychologist and founder of Smart Mind Health, elaborated: "People that experience social anxiety know that the fear that they have around these certain situations is not OK, so their nervous system reacts in a way that sends them into a slight bit of panic. It's not just nerves or a lack of confidence; social anxiety is a lot more than that. There's a genuine fear that something is going to happen and a fear of being seen and getting it wrong. It's also linked quite closely with imposter syndrome."
He explained that social anxiety frequently manifests during workplace presentations and group interactions, adding pressure in performance situations like meetings or phone calls. In social gatherings, those with social anxiety may sit quietly, observing conversations without contributing, due to fears of saying something wrong or having their opinions misinterpreted.
