Latest news with #socialanxiety
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
6 Signs of Social Anxiety That Are Easy to Mistake for ‘Shyness'
All products featured on Self are independently selected by Self editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission. MementoJpeg/Getty Images Feeling nervous or overstimulated during what's supposed to be a 'fun' social situation isn't unusual. Some people are just naturally shy. Others may experience signs of social anxiety—and the tricky part is figuring out the difference. On the surface, they might not sound all that different—especially if you're someone who dreads small talk or needs time warming up to new people. Being reserved or introverted are both personality traits that can make group settings draining, but they don't typically derail your life in the way social anxiety (a mental health condition) can. The clinical definition of social anxiety disorder is a persistent, overwhelming fear (not just discomfort) of being judged by others—intense enough to interfere with your work, school, or relationships. But there are also more subtle, everyday forms that therapists commonly see and treat. 'Not all anxiety is clinical,' Chloe Carmichael, PhD, New York City–based psychologist and author of Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of your Anxiety, tells SELF. And depending on the person, these milder experiences can be just as disruptive, making daily interactions (like meeting new people or speaking up in public) panic-inducing. Here are a few major ways to tell whether you're socially anxious (versus shy)—plus expert-approved ways to navigate high-pressure events, parties, and public speaking opportunities. 1. You want to put yourself out there—but feel like you can't. Deep down, socially anxious people want to connect, Dr. Carmichael says. They just feel frozen by that fear of being criticized or rejected. This could look like eyeing a fun, lively group at your college reunion, but stopping yourself from joining in. What if you kill the vibe? Or worse, they secretly make fun of you later? Or you have something important to say during a staff meeting, yet stay silent because you're afraid of sounding dumb. Even sending a simple text like, 'Want to hang out?' to a new friend can be terrifying, because you worry about seeming clingy, awkward, or 'too much.' 2. You're outgoing and talkative…but still feel disconnected from everyone. Social anxiety doesn't always look like someone hiding at home all weekend or retreating into the corner of a lively nightclub. Sometimes it lives inside those who are chatty, outgoing, and seemingly at ease in any crowd. 'You can absolutely be a socially anxious extrovert,' Ellen Hendriksen, PhD, a psychologist at Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders and author of How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety, tells SELF. In these cases, though, that inner turmoil is rooted in a gnawing doubt that maybe, you don't really belong. Someone who accepts every invite and seemingly thrives in group scenes may still spend the entire evening obsessing over every word they said, or secretly wondering if their friends even wanted them there. 3. You tell yourself to relax, but your body's not listening. Often times, the signs of social anxiety tend to show up in the body before your brain can talk you down, Angela Neal-Barnett, PhD, director of the Program for Research on Anxiety Disorders among African Americans (PRADAA) at Kent State University, tells SELF. So aside from that classic mental spiral of overthinking and second-guessing, your heart might race the second you spot a group of friends laughing without you (Are they making fun of me?). Your stomach might flip out of nowhere, hitting you with a sudden bout of nausea right as you're getting ready for a networking event. 4. You're constantly afraid people are judging you, even after the interaction. A core feature of social anxiety is that intense fear of rejection—and the nonstop rumination that comes with it. 'There's a constant worry that people are judging you,' Dr. Hendriksen says. 'For saying the wrong thing, being dressed poorly, or being perceived as boring, inadequate, or stupid.' These worries often linger long after the moment's passed: Even after a really fun dinner date, for instance, your brain may keep fixating on that thing you said (Did I overshare?) or replaying the way you accidentally spit while talking (They probably think I'm so gross). Whereas if you're shy or nervous, Dr. Hendriksen points out that you typically wouldn't walk away from a relatively positive experience, still convinced everyone is secretly weirded out by you. 5. You don't 'warm up' the longer you're there. It's normal to be tense, quiet, or nervous at first, then gradually loosen up once you've had a few conversations or warmed up to the group. With social anxiety, however, that discomfort tends to stick around—even after you've mingled or if you're with people you already know well. This is because the anxiety isn't about breaking the ice, Dr. Neal-Barnett says. It's that persistent, deep-rooted fear of being embarrassed, humiliated, or rejected, that doesn't go away with time or familiarity. 6. You avoid important opportunities altogether. We're not just talking about skipping this month's work happy hour or ghosting a party invite because you don't recognize anyone on the guest list. In more severe cases, socially anxious people may say no to major life moments out of fear, Dr. Hendriksen points out. Think: turning down a promotion that involves more public speaking, or skipping your best friend's birthday because the thought of mingling with strangers isn't worth it. Many folks may find these situations tough or overwhelming, too, but are able to push through. But people with social anxiety may miss out on these opportunities altogether. How to overcome social anxiety The good news is that social anxiety isn't a fixed personality trait. It's something you can learn to manage and even improve over time. In the moment, experts say that simple steps like deep breathing can help ease nerves. But for more long-term progress, Dr. Neal-Barnett recommends gradually exposing yourself to these anxiety-provoking group settings. That might mean working up the courage to stop by an intimate housewarming party (versus jumping straight into public speaking or a packed networking event). The idea is that the more you face these situations in a way that feels doable, the less intimidating they become. Another strategy that Dr. Hendriksen suggests for her patients is reframing any small slip-ups (the stutter, the spilled drink, the joke that didn't land). So often 'we focus on all the mistakes on a date or a social interaction,' she says, while forgetting the more positive moments (like that fellow foodie you briefly chatted with or your stories that did make the crowd laugh). So it's important to remember that inevitable mistakes or general awkwardness don't ruin the entire experience—'or make you an incapable, flawed, or embarrassing person,' Dr. Hendriksen explains. Making these changes on your own is easier said than done, though. And for more intense symptoms that resemble a clinical social anxiety disorder—overwhelming panic attacks, for instance, or avoidance so extreme it keeps you from going to work and maintaining relationships—every expert we spoke with agrees it's best to see a therapist. These professionals can help you take these small, personalized steps in a supportive, safe space. Because while anxiety can turn first dates, work dinners, even casual get-togethers into high-stakes moments, it doesn't have to control your life (or confidence). Related: 5 Signs You've Got an 'Inferiority Complex,' According to Experts Why You're Waking Up With Anxiety and How to Start Each Day Less Frazzled How to Be More Positive—Without Faking or Forcing It Get more of SELF's great service journalism delivered right to your inbox. Originally Appeared on Self
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘What a lunatic': Jackie O admits to controversial bathroom act
Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed she's very much guilty of 'bathroom camping', a phenomenon Gen Z is obsessed with. You might think going to the bathroom at a social event, lingering in the toilet and doing some doom scrolling on your phone doesn't have a name, but you'd be wrong. Gen Z loves to come up with names for everything, and in 2025, that is now called 'bathroom camping'. To be clear bathroom camping can also be something you do in your own home for comfort or if you're just desperate for privacy. Henderson explained on The Kylie and Jackie O Show that she does get 'overwhelmed' at social functions and takes solace in the loo. 'It becomes – when there's too many people I don't know, I get a bit overwhelmed,' she explained. The radio star's co-host, Sandilands, seemed genuinely puzzled by the idea of hanging out in a bathroom. 'So what? Are you worried about them looking at you?' he asked. 'No. It is a brain drain, like sometimes it becomes very draining for me,' she explained. That didn't seem to clear up any confusion for Sandilands who continued to pepper her with questions. 'So you can't handle being around normal people?' he asked. 'I can't handle being around a large group of people where I have to small talk a lot. I hate that,' she explained. 'So that becomes a brain drain. And so what I do is I go to the bathroom and I just sit there and have time out, and I just chill.' Sandilands remained baffled. 'What fun! You'd never forget to invite Jackie to a party,' he joked. Henderson kept trying to explain, saying sometimes in social situations she just needs 'alone time' for a little recharge, but Sandilands remained dubious. 'What a lunatic,' he mused. 'I thought that too. I thought I was a lunatic, but apparently this is quite the thing,' she argued. 'It now got a name for it. People do this. I'm not alone. It's called bathroom camping.' Henderson's not wrong it certainly is a very big thing. The phrase 'bathroom camping' has garnered over 10 million views on TikTok. People online are also divided on the act with a lot of people arguing it is 'rude' to do when you're out in public. 'Bathroom camping in public is crazy and inconsiderate,' one noted. 'I'm embarrassed by how selfish people from my generation are,' another said. 'Bathroom camping outside your house is so rude if there's one bathroom,' someone mused. On the other hand, others argue that it is perfectly okay to take time for yourself when you need to. 'Such a relatable concept! Sometimes, we all need a little escape to recharge and gather our thought,' one argued. 'It is one place we don't get bothered,' someone else pointed out. 'I used to lie on the bathroom floor for hours. It felt so peaceful and calming for some odd reasons,' another shared. 'People think I'm crazy but I swear any bathroom is my safe space,' someone else noted.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Book excerpt: "Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change"
We may receive an affiliate commission from anything you buy from this article. Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Atlantic staff writer Olga Khazan set out to change aspects of her personality she didn't like by forcing herself outside of her comfort zone, and documented the progress she made in her new book, "Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change" (Simon & Schuster/Simon Element). Among the challenges that Khazan, a lifelong introvert, set for herself: Tackling her social anxiety by enrolling in an improv class. Yes, and … how did that go? Read an excerpt below, and don't miss Susan Spencer's interview with Olga Khazan on "CBS Sunday Morning" July 20! "Me, But Better" by Olga Khazan Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now. My journey into extroversion began solitarily, with me watching the improv show Middleditch & Schwartz on Netflix one night. The episode opened with two well-known actors, Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz, spending an uncomfortably long time pulling a premise for their sketch out of a random audience member—a photography intern. Then, on a bare stage, Middleditch pretended to interview Schwartz for a photography job, making up absurd questions like "embody a gazelle." The audience laughed along gamely, but mostly, the scene reminded me that I needed to file my expense report. I felt uneasy for the actors, like at any moment the crowd could turn on them, leaving them groping for laughs in ghostly silence. I wondered why they couldn't have just written out better scenes ahead of time. And even worse, I knew that soon, I would be in their exact same position, except without the advantage of being a famous comedian. For my personality-change project, I had decided to focus on each of the five traits intensively for a few months at a time, and I tackled extroversion first. In recent years my life had descended into a rut that I didn't particularly like, and extroversion seemed like the way out. Most days, I worked, made dinner, watched TV, and worked some more. Rich and I were planning to relocate, and it occurred to me that I would have both moved into and out of my house without having met any of my neighbors. A test in a self-help book reminded me that I have "high loneliness." My "very low" extroversion score was probably not surprising to people who know me: My friend Anastasia once sentenced me to attending a party on pain of ending our friendship. But my hard-core introversion could turn pernicious, shading at times into loneliness and isolation. I have a career in which work can expand to fill every crevice of the day, and sometimes I thought that was a good thing, because I didn't have many hobbies or friends to otherwise occupy my time. (And say what you will about extroverts, but they have plenty of hobbies and friends.) I had always told myself I could focus on socializing after my life had stabilized, but the absence of social interaction was, itself, destabilizing. Of all five traits, extroversion offers the simplest path to personality change: You just have to go out and talk to people. You don't even have to be particularly good at it, or to proclaim yourself an "extrovert" while you do it. You just go, and extroversion will find you, like the entire wedding follows the first intrepid dancer. Coincidentally, this is also the ethos behind improv comedy: You just have to say something. Anything! For the uninitiated, "improv" is short for "improvisational theater." The idea is that two or more actors get up on stage without knowing what they'll say or do. They get to the "scene" by accepting and building on a partner's improvisations—a concept known as "yes, and." When this is done well, improvisers say there is virtually no difference between improv and scripted theater—a claim about which opinions surely differ. I knew I needed a commitment device for extroversion—something to force me out of my house and into gregariousness. I decided to try improv, which seemed like the full-immersion extrovert experience. It also felt like full-immersion insanity. Rich saw me entering my credit-card information into the website of Dojo Comedy, a cozy-looking D.C. improv theater whose logo incorporates a pair of mustachioed Groucho Marx comedy glasses. "You doing improv is like Larry David doing ice hockey," he said. It's true. My general vibe is less "yes, and" and more "well, actually." I've never really liked improv as an art form. I don't find it particularly funny—it's more like an extended inside joke you're never going to get. I thought Middleditch would warm me to improv, but it only turned me off more. Before the first class a few weeks later, I donned a Groundlings-ready black T-shirt and jeans, hoping to draw as little attention to myself as possible. I tried to shake memories of being so timid in middle-school drama class that I only qualified to be the understudy for the smallest role—Bob Cratchit's daughter. When I typed the address of the improv studio into my phone, I was relieved when the red snake of "heavier than usual traffic" indicated that I would have at least an hour to mentally prepare. The improv class met in an old townhouse, in a room that was, for no discernible reason, filled with dozens of sculptures of elephants. Six of us novices sat in a circle on chairs that looked like they'd been salvaged from Victorian funerals. The instructor, a short brunette with a brisk, friendly manner, opened by asking us about our past improv experience—none, in my case. One of the other women rattled off a long list of improv classes she had taken. What kind of crazy person does improv multiple times? I wondered. (Me, as it would turn out.) Right after the instructor said, "Let's get started," I prayed for someone to grab an elephant and knock me unconscious. That didn't happen, so instead I stood up to play warm-up games with a software engineer, two lawyers, and a guy who worked on the Hill. The games were meant to loosen us up for what was to come, which was "scene work," or acting out unscripted mini plays with one another. First, we learned the improv standard Zip Zap Zop, which involves whooshing beams of energy at one another and taking turns saying "Zip," "Zap," and—you guessed it— "Zop." The point of the game is to stay unflustered enough to keep up the Zip-Zap-Zop sequence while still whooshing on to someone else in the circle. I struggled for several reasons: Because of the pandemic, I hadn't been in a room with other people for more than a year. On top of that, I have poor reflexes, and, because we wore masks, you had to determine whether someone was about to Zop you solely by the angle of their eyes. If someone messed up the sequence—said "Zip" to another's "Zip," for instance—we would all stop, clap, and say, "yay!," reinforcing the idea that it's okay to screw up in improv. The spirit of all this was so different from my job, where you can get fired for screwing up, that it felt like some sort of rehab for perfectionists. Then we moved on to juggling various invisible items between one another, including an invisible ball, which, humiliatingly, we had to refer to as "invisible ball!" I sensed that the others were as nervous as I was, but this being D.C., an air of try-hard overachievement subsumed everyone's true emotions. People, myself included, will behave ridiculously if they feel they have no alternative. I imagined all my fellow ball-jugglers back at work the next day, writing emails in which they promised to circle back and touch base. I wondered whether they would think back to this moment of whimsy at their brown-bag lunches, as they gravely discussed the situation in Burkina Faso. Maybe it would make the situation in Burkina Faso seem less chaotic by comparison. Soon it was time to call an invisible hawk to my arm. I noted with gratitude that at least the blinds were closed, so no one could see us from the street. Excerpted from "Me, But Better." Copyright © 2025, Olga Khazan. Reproduced by permission of Simon Element, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. All rights reserved. Get the book here: "Me, But Better" by Olga Khazan Buy locally from For more info:
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What's Really Behind the 'Gen Z Stare' and Why Does It Matter?
If you've caught your teen glaring at you with a blank, expressionless stare, here's what's behind it. Fact checked by Sarah ScottKey Takeaways Teens today often show a blank look called the "Gen Z stare" that can signal discomfort, not disrespect. Experts say social anxiety, pandemic isolation, and growing up online may shape how Gen Z connects in person. Even if it looks like attitude, this stare may just mean your teen feels misunderstood or a mom of three teenage girls, the "Gen Z stare' is a look I know well. Other parents of adolescents and young adults can likely also easily identify that blank, expressionless gaze that is ever-so-slightly tinged with the faint notion of being so over whatever you are saying. Not yet familiar with the "Gen Z Stare" that is also trending online? A TikTok shared by mom and creator @rileysomsendespot nails how an interaction between a millennial and a Gen Zer might play out, with the older person perceiving the stare as rude. But do younger people really intend to be giving off side-eye vibes with this behavior? Comments on the TikTok post are divided about the impetus behind the stare, with some millennials testifying that the up-and-coming generation doesn't have 'social decency' and that their 'disinterested' expression "immediately ruins the interaction.' But other commenters defend the 'Gen Z stare,' saying that it's a symptom of social anxiety, or that the look can be explained by pure and simple apathy over small talk. The common theme is that adults and kids alike are familiar with the 'loading screen'-like glare that seems to characterize Gen Z. Is the 'Gen Z Stare' Really Anything New? It's a natural conclusion to wonder if the look I get when I dare to ask my teen a question resembles the put-out expression I'd give my mom back when I was her age. Like, did Gen Z invent anything that other generations haven't been doing since the dawn of time, when cave-teens glared at their parents? 'Teens getting annoyed by certain questions and situations has been a constant throughout history,' confirms Matthew Solit, MSW, LMSW, an executive clinical director at LifeStance Health. Also, not exactly groundbreaking is that adolescence has always been an awkward time, when communicating with adults can be challenging. Just watch any John Hughes movie from the 1980s for confirmation of this strained dynamic. Even with those factors in play, however, there's no doubt that Gen Z has grown up with unique circumstances that may be impacting their behavior. Social Media and the 'Gen Z Stare' Gen Z is the first generation to grow up with social media and online access being a part of their lives from birth, and that has to have mattered in ways we are still figuring out. But is there any truth to the notion that the 'Gen Z stare' is evidence teens interact online without so much as a wobble, but struggle to engage in real-life, everyday situations? 'Many young people have become more comfortable expressing themselves through text or curated content than in spontaneous, in-person interactions,' says Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, a New York City-based neuropsychologist and Director of Comprehend the Mind. Solit agrees, telling Parents, 'The shift to more digital communication can be a big factor in social anxiety with face-to-face encounters, particularly with other generations.' He goes on to explain, 'The rules of digital communication are different. There is not the same pressure of having someone physically in front of you who needs a response when communicating via chat or social media.' But social media alone can't explain the behavior, especially since a major milestone in Gen Z's formative years was the pandemic. COVID-19's Impact on Gen Z's Social Skills The pandemic most certainly robbed our kids of at least a year that they should have been among peers in person. 'Many teens lost opportunities to engage in daily peer interactions that are foundational for building emotional attunement and social confidence,' says Judy Ho, PhD., clinical and forensic neuropsychologist and professor of psychology at Pepperdine University. According to Dr. Ho, studies have found that the pandemic increased rates of social anxiety and avoidance in teens, who may also experience more discomfort in social situations. 'It's hard to imagine that a year away from the intensive social interaction we get in school did not have an impact on Gen Z,' agrees Solit. But he also notes that the extent to which Gen Z was affected by the pandemic will be studied for many years to come. Gen Z May Be Rebelling Against Small Talk Few people enjoy small talk, such as 'Nice weather we're having.' But Gen Z is not afraid, in many cases, to show it with the 'Gen Z stare.' According to Dr. Hafeez, their particularly short attention spans in the age of social media and instant gratification may in part explain this phenomenon. 'When faced with repetitive questions or forced small talk, they don't always have the patience to respond in a way that feels genuine or worthwhile,' she tells Parents. Similarly, ask my teens, and they say that the stare signals unadulterated annoyance with questions they view as having obvious answers. Dr. Ho has seen this in action as well. 'For many teens, the stare is a subtle protest—a nonverbal way to signal discomfort with questions that feel condescending, repetitive, or judgmental,' she says. Adults May Be Misunderstanding The 'Gen Z Stare' To be clear, not all teens are taking part in some sort of mass rebellion by staring us down. In fact, experts agree that many adults may be misinterpreting the expression as rudeness, when that is not at all what's behind the 'Gen Z stare.' In addition to the possibility that some young people are experiencing social anxiety or awkwardness, thus, the stare, they may also be attempting to manage the overstimulation that runs rampant in our modern world. 'Parents should know that the 'Gen Z stare' isn't always about attitude or disrespect,' says Dr. Hafeez. 'A lot of the time, it's just how teens are managing overstimulation or trying not to show too much. They've grown up watching people online who stay calm, detached, or sarcastic as a way of being cool or in control.' Young people are navigating a uniquely pressurized world in which they face constant social comparison, according to Dr. Ho. She theorizes that the 'Gen Z stare' could be a coping mechanism. 'It speaks volumes about how young people today are managing overstimulation, performance pressure, and emotional fatigue,' she says. The 'Gen Z stare' May Have Consequences No matter the reasons behind the flat, unimpressed look that Gen Z has seemingly mastered, experts also agree on what commenters assert in the TikTok example: Since many older people view the glare as being rude, it can have serious consequences in the real world, such as lost job opportunities and the inability to form lasting relationships. 'As parents, ideally, we are responsible for raising our kids to become confident, functional, and happy adults,' asserts Solit. He says the behavior is worth addressing if you observe your teen coming across as rude to a teacher, coach, or at their job. 'For Gen Z to be successful, they will have to navigate how to talk with individuals from other generations.' And, as Dr. Hafeez points out, 'The longer it goes unaddressed, the more natural it can feel, and the harder it will become to relearn more open, connected ways of interacting.' Here's some advice for helping your teen become aware of their stare, and potentially correct it, include: Don't take the look personally. 'Coming at it with curiosity instead of judgment makes it easier to actually talk about what's going on,' advises Dr. Hafeez. Don't call out the stare in the moment. Dr. Hafeez recommends letting the behavior ride for a beat and then talking about it later when things are calm. Model the behavior you want to see in your teen. Parents should show open body language and eye contact as counterexamples to the 'Gen Z stare,' according to Dr. Hafeez. Give teens opportunities to engage with others in person. Dr. Hafeez recommends facilitating low-pressure chances to talk with adults or peers offline as much as possible. Ask questions to understand the why. Dr. Ho cautions parents not to view the stare simply as a bad habit, but to treat it as a meaningful piece of data. Ask questions such as, 'When you go quiet like that, what's going through your mind?' or 'I've noticed that you've been staring off more and more, what's going on and how might I be able to help?' Mirror back what you see. Solit says giving your child a 'Gen Z stare' may help them understand what they are putting out into the world. Solit warns parents that it may not be possible to eliminate the behavior altogether. And, as he points out, every older generation is convinced that younger generations are doomed. But, it's likely that this is not the case with Gen Z, just as it wasn't with previous generations. So, ultimately, deep breath, millennials. It'll be OK. Read the original article on Parents 😵💫 Need to unwind after a long day?
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'I've been feeling a bit forlorn': Zoe Ball discusses her mental health battles and how she is missing her two children - as she reveals memorial garden for her late mum and ex-partner
Zoe Ball has opened up about her recent mental health struggles as she admitted she has been feeling 'forlorn' and suffering from social anxiety. The radio presenter, 54, revealed that she has found some comfort in planting a memorial garden for her late mother and ex-partner Billy Yates at her home, after revealing she struggled with the loss of her mum Julia Peckham last year. Zoe spoke candidly about her struggles with not wanting to socialise and empty nest syndrome during an appearance on her new podcast Dig It with Jo Whiley. Revealing she loves when her children - Woody and Nellie - spend time at home because they spend a lot of time in Brighton where their dad lives, she said: 'I do fill the fridge. But I am like "Can you come and get your bloody smoked salmon, Woody. 'Because they go straight there, because he's on the beach. So I've been feeling a little bit forlorn recently. I really miss my kids.' Zoe has had a tough year following the death of her mother, who passed away in 2024 following a cancer diagnosis. As a way of remember her mother and other loved ones, Zoe revealed she planted roses in her garden as a way of honouring them. She said: 'The red roses that I have planted for Billy, for my mum in the garden have all gone crazy just this last couple of weeks and it makes me so happy to see them because all the flowers in my garden are for different people.' Elsewhere in the interview, discussing her struggle with social anxiety, Zoe said: 'I have really bad social anxiety. My brother has it too. 'And so whenever there's an event coming up, be it Glastonbury or a wedding or a party, I'm always slightly in the back of my head trying to think of an excuse of not being able to go, which my old job was a great excuse, and I used it for years. 'And now I don't have that job anymore. I can't use it as an excuse. Oh I've got to have an early night. I am really bad at small talk. It makes my skin crawl. I have had to reverse myself out of conversations when I have said something so weird. 'So it's people's little kids. I'm like, yep, great, I'll go look off to the little kids, because then I don't have to talk to adults. 'I am like "Let me go and sort the ice out. Let me lay out the salads. Give me something to do." But Zoe did admit she never called her parents often when she was young. She said: 'I have I often say to my dad and my lovely step-mum, I am so sorry. I am so sorry that I disappeared on you, because I did that. I had never phoned home. I had never come back. It would just be like three times a year. Now I really feel it as a mum. 'I am like, can you just check it? Woody is actually quite good. I know the time to text him. 'It has to be after 1pm, never up before then. Then there is a key moment, probably about nine, ten, eleven o'clock at night, he will always respond immediately.' One reason Zoe does have to smile is her new mystery man, who trikes a remarkable resemblance to ex husband Norman Cook. Zoe was spotted strolling hand-in-hand with him while enjoying the music at Glastonbury on Friday. In snaps obtained by The Sun, Zoe cut a casual figure in a black ensemble while shielding her eyes behind shades. Her companion, who was tall and boasted salt and pepper hair just like Fatboy Slim, 61, held her hand as they made their way through Worthy Farm's VIP area. An onlooker told the publication: 'Zoe is down at Glastonbury as a punter and has brought her new boyfriend along for the ride, they seemed blissfully happy and were strolling along holding hands.' 'People were doing double takes at her bloke though because he looks a lot like Fatboy. It's so great to see Zoe smiling again,' they added. MailOnline have contacted Zoe's reps for comment. Zoe and Norman, who share son Woody, 24, and daughter Nelly, 14, announced their split in 2016 after 17 years together, before finalising their divorce in 2020. Zoe continues to have a close relationship with Norman and is thought to have sold her £2million country home in Sussex to move to a townhouse between Brighton and Hove, close to where he lives. Both Zoe and Norman are now teetotal having admitted issues with alcohol and both had stints in rehab. Norman previously credited his former wife for keeping him down to earth when he was at the height of his fame. He told the Changes podcast: 'One thing I did have to keep a lid on during that crazy time was my ego. 'While you've got licence to break rules, you've always got a lot of people who'll let you get away with murder. 'Zoe was really good for me for that, because she knew the fame game and we would sort of check each other. 'If I wasn't respectful to people, she'd go: ''Oi, come on, that's not how we behave! Go back and thank them for that''. 'We were both quite good at keeping each other's feet on the ground. Because it's hard when everyone's saying: 'Here, have this, take this, drink this, you're brilliant.' 'It's hard to keep some kind of limit and say: 'I am actually a human being, not a superstar.' I think we probably saved each other a lot of bother.' In 2016, Norman said he was still mending his 'wounded heart' more than two years after his break-up with Zoe. At the time, Zoe had moved on with boyfriend Michael Reed and the DJ at the time ruled out dating as his 'heart's not ready' to find love again. 'I'm single, I'm definitely not on Tinder,' he told the Daily Star at the time. 'It's been 18 years since I was in this situation, I've forgotten what the rules are. My heart's not ready. My heart is still wounded to be honest.' Norman and Zoe began their romance in 1997 after they met in Ibiza and they married two years later at Babington House in Somerset. They split briefly in 2003 when it emerged she had an affair with a close friend of her husband's DJ Dan Peppe. Following the revelation, Norman said he still loved Zoe and would take her back, as long as she promised never to see Peppe again. The Praise You hitmaker confessed at the time: 'I still love her. If you love someone you'll forgive them. 'I've spoken to her today and she is genuinely remorseful.' In September 2016 they announced their separation for good, nine months after Zoe was seen embracing Franklin Lake singer Tay Tay Starhz, 22, at the December 2015 festive wrap party for Strictly Come Dancing's BBC2 spin-off show It Takes Two. In a joint statement, the pair wrote: 'With great sadness we are announcing that we have separated.' Following the breakdown of her marriage to Fatboy Slim, Zoe found love again with her partner Billy Yates, who took his own life in May 2017. After a long battle with depression, Billy, 40, took his own life in May 2017 at his home in Putney, London. The Radio 2 presenter previously told how she felt 'really grateful' he had said goodbye to her the last time she saw him.
