You’ve written the message three times. You reread it, edit the emoji, and hover over “send.”Then once you finally send it you start replaying every word. Sound familiar? This is the before-and-after loop of social anxiety: the overthinking that happens before you speak, and the self-criticism that follows after. For many people who identify as people pleasers, this pattern isn’t about vanity it’s about wanting to feel safe in connection. Before: The Anxiety of Anticipation
