Emily chats with Dr. Andy Fraass, who opens up about social anxiety, learning he couldn’t trust his own self-perception, and the impacts of academia on family life.

This episode covers:

• The boy behind the family man, a career stemming from childhood media (Jurassic Park), and single-celled creatures that tell us about climate change and evolution
• Andy’s family history of mental illness, and academics
• The increased difficulty of hiding social anxiety with age, exacerbation of symptoms, and academic requirements for networking
• The tenure track interview that made Andy realise he couldn’t trust his perception of his own performance
• Post tenure-track openness about generalised and social anxiety disorders, and panic attacks
• The impacts of academic pressure on family life
• The mental health impacts of choosing to stay within an industry that can have significant detrimental effects on family

If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast!

Resources:

• App: Calm – for improving health and happiness
• Andy’s blog about anxiety in academia

Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility! 

Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/

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You can find out more about Voices of Academia & other personal stories at @academicvoices or our website.

Recorded: 19/11/2021.

Sound: Mindset by Ketsa