Do you dread social situations because you fear being judged?
Do you replay conversations in your head, picking apart every little detail?
Or maybe the thought of interacting with strangers leaves you frozen with fear?

These are all signs of social anxiety.

Mark Metry, a social anxiety coach and my recent guest, knows exactly how it feels. He struggled with social anxiety for most of his life, and it wasn’t just about feeling nervous in crowds — it escalated to a life-altering point.

“It felt like my brain broke. My lifelong social anxiety turned into complete isolation. I gained 75 pounds, and next thing I knew, I was suicidal.”

But Mark found a way out, and his journey to recovery offers hope for anyone dealing with similar struggles.

One key first step? Tightening up your diet.

Mark points to the gut-brain connection as a major factor in social anxiety. Our brain and stomach are linked, and what we eat can have a profound impact on how we feel emotionally and mentally.

There’s solid science behind this. A Harvard article explains, “A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. Therefore, a person’s intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression.”

So, could eating better be the first step toward tackling your social anxiety?