Have you seen the show Wednesday? Let’s look at it from a different lens.

The Addams Family movies came out a few years after I was born, but it didn’t take long for me to be hooked and watch them on repeat. Honestly, I have fond memories of watching the Addams Family growing up.

So when the new Wednesday show hit the screen, I was all up for it. 

Curious, I turned on Netflix, and there it was. Already a Top 10 hit. By now, if you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that it’s broken a few records (in fact, it broke its record and has garnered over 411 million hours viewed).

The show follows Wednesday as she’s sent to a boarding school (Nevermore Academy) made explicitly for outcasts. While Wednesday tries to live with a newfound psychic ability, she tries to solve a mysterious killing spree plaguing the academy and its nearby town.

You might not know this, but the show was filmed exclusively in Romania (my home country!), which makes it even more fun for me to watch. I’m excited to put the locations on my list of things to see next time I visit. If you haven’t visited Romania, I HIGHLY recommend it, and even more so by using Booking.

Now, even if you have zero connection with the Addams Family or the show Wednesday, you’ll be interested in what I have to say next.

Watching the show made me realize that there are a few reasons why Wednesday does NOT have social anxiety. In writing this list, I looked at Wednesday’s character as a whole, spanning the decades.

I wanted to highlight these points because, in a perfect world, we’d check them all off too, but this goes to show that only a fictional character can indeed be free of social anxiety (even then, there are moments where we glimpse that she does feel it sometimes).

Before you come for me with comments on this, YES, I realize it’s fiction, and she’s not a real person. I’ve received comments of this nature on my video, and all I have to say to those people is that they need to join a book club and start deconstructing characters and plot lines.

I’m not here to diagnose a fictional character, so as long as we don’t take this too seriously, we can have fun talking about it.

8 reasons why Wednesday doesn’t have social anxiety

1. Her self-acceptance is rooted in a judgment-free family

2. She rejoices at being rejected

How this relates to social anxiety:

Fear of rejection is at the core of social anxiety. Imagine walking around, actually happy to be rejected and looking for it. You see it as further evidence you’re meant to walk a different path than everyone else and have zero qualms about being left out of typical activities.

3. She focuses on her interests without guilt or shame

While at the school, she’s fixated on a few things: solving the mystery around the murders and writing her book. Those are her two main drivers while she’s forced to participate in “normal” activities, such as the canoe race, the school dance, and the community day.

 Throughout the show, we also see her practice her Cello, journal, and have killer mad fencing and fighting skills. 

How this relates to social anxiety:

Having obscure hobbies can make one a target of teasing and shaming, which is why many of us hide our true selves. We don’t share what lights us up, and we do our best to participate in activities and hobbies that are more accepted and recognized (even though we’re miserable doing them).

4. She does not compare herself to anyone else around her

This recurring theme is probably the most vital point highlighting why Wednesday doesn’t have social anxiety. She minds her own business, doesn’t change how she dresses, doesn’t try to fit in, and knows her life goals (she doesn’t stray from them). 

Even when her feelings towards her mother show up, we can see that the last thing she wants is to be compared to her mother (or walk in her shoes).

How this relates to social anxiety: 

The moment we start comparing ourselves to our neighbour, friend, manager, etc., is when we open the door to social anxiety. Being resolute in who we are is the only safeguard against comparison.

5. She challenges the status quo

Why should she dress up her dolls when she can chop their heads off and sleep with dismembered bodies? Why would she dress in colourful clothes when she can make a statement with her black dress? Or care about frivolous dance parties when she has a novel to write? 

Wednesday is all about challenging the status quo head-on. Even when she challenges a student to a fencing match, she invokes the military-style way (the first to draw blood).

How this relates to social anxiety:

Those who experience social anxiety daily will do everything they can to fit in, not make much noise, and put on a mask to make everyone else comfortable. That’s not the Wednesday way. 

Challenging the status quo is one way to rally against social anxiety because you’re telling it that no matter how much pushback you get, you’re standing your ground, unflinching.

6. She expresses herself on paper than through talking

You’re probably wondering “what does this have to do with social anxiety?!” I can see why it can be confusing but I’ll keep it short and clear. If we look at Wednesday, we can see that she’d rather spend her time writing her novel than interacting with humans. 

The fact that she spends the majority of her time writing (talking about her character in general), removes the likelihood that she’ll experience social anxiety.

How this relates to social anxiety:

Having social anxiety means that you’re scared of being judged, rejected, and evaluated by others. This can happen in many ways, forms, and situations. Most of the time it has to do with how we present ourselves, and what we say (or don’t say). 

Communicating verbally enhances our social anxiety because with each passing minute, as the anxiety rises, we might freeze or stumble on our thoughts. So, while she might experience social anxiety, she’s radically reducing her chances.

7. She doesn’t use social media (no phone)

Yep, I had to put this in there. Have you tried taking a break from social media to see how you feel? I promise you’ll be a whole new person by the end of the time. 

You’ll remove the need to compare yourself daily, as you most likely do now, and you’ll have more time on your hands to do things you genuinely enjoy. Wednesday doesn’t have social anxiety because she’s not “social.” 

How this relates to social anxiety:

Studies have shown that the more time we spend on social media, the more dire the effects are on our mental health. One of the five ways to quickly start managing your social anxiety is by reducing your social media consumption. You can grab my free guide here on how to do that.