I have social anxiety. I don’t like large groups of people….Ed Sheeran

In a world where we’re obsessed with having large numbers of people ‘following’ or ‘liking’ our social accounts, and where we’re apparently ‘building friendship numbers’, isn’t it so interesting that a huge number of us battle social anxiety.

Many who stumbled upon media coverage about Ed Sheeran’s latest admission, might well have found themselves somewhat shocked.

After all, here’s a global superstar – used to performing to the masses – admitting that he is plagued by social anxiety and has reduced his friendships to a bare minimum.

He said:

“I have social anxiety. I don’t like large groups of people, which is ironic given I play shows to thousands of people. I feel claustrophobic and I don’t like being around many people.”

Well, hands up if, like us, you cheered a little at the thought that Ed was making this admission.

Issues of this nature need to be understood more widely, and recognised as being a factor in the lives of even people who are great at ‘appearing confident’ or keeping up pretences.

Of course, if you’re tackling a mental health illness like anorexia, you’ll know only too well how challenging the issues of anxiety can become.

Your illness takes great delight in making you feel even less socially capable, and forcing you into more isolation than anyone should have to suffer.

Take heart today that your anxiety issues are real, and that you’ve a right to expect those who love you to understand.

Be kind to yourself and know that even the biggest superstars in the world have their vulnerabilities.

And the more recovered and healthy you become, the less you’ll find yourself burdened by the illness.