Please be warned if you haven’t played the remake this post contains spoilers.  

The Promise scene is so telling in the remake. Thanks to technology we’re able to see facial expressions and hear tone of voice. Not only is it clever and touching how Nojima wrote this scene, but so is the way Cloud remembers. 

Here we have teenage Cloud and Tifa sitting under a veil of stars. Cloud says he’s joining Shinra to be a solider. Tifa is taken back, but not shocked due to the fact all of the boys are doing the same thing. Cloud confirms this but tells Tifa he’s going to be better--he’s going to be like the great war hero Sephiroth. 

Tifa is amazed and impressed ,which was Cloud’s goal in telling her this, but you can tell she has a deep thought. 

Our theory on her thought is, if he becomes like Sephiroth that means he’ll be famous and probably won’t remember her. Also, it seems like she mentions how “hard” it is to become like Sephiroth. It’s almost like Tifa is swaying him not to leave. When she brings this up, Cloud turns his face away and his expression is sad while telling her he’ll be gone for a long time almost like he is gently asking her not to forget about him

 So, she comes up with this promise for him to rescue her if she’s ever in trouble so he’ll remember her. 

Some say Cloud’s reply is one of confusion. Yes, yes it is. Because if you played the OG you’d know why he’s doing all of this: for her. So her requesting to come save her is odd to him because he feels like what he’s doing will “get the girl” thus he will always save her. It could also be said that Cloud doesn’t need a promise to save her due to their history that is later on revealed in the game. 

Anyway, it’s also it’s a way for her to remember him as well. So he does “benefit” from this promise as well. 

At this moment in time, the two can’t confirm their feelings because they’re young and shy; just like any other teenager. 

So, Cloud being Cloud who can’t say no to Tifa, decides to commit to her promise.  It could also be said that Cloud is caught offguard that Tifa wants him to save her. 

One last thing, some people pointed out that the shooting star is missing from their scene. If you noticed in the scene a “signal warning” just so happens to appear after Cloud remembers his promise to her that resembles a shooting star. Our prediction is that star will be in the Lifestream scene and the signal warning could be used as a signal that this scene didn’t quite play out like this. Maybe when the two are in the lifestream, it’ll be revealed this scene was A LOT deeper than what we thought. Not that this scene isn’t deep already, but given that Cloud can’t fully remember things well it’s a possibility that this scene may be extended later on with his “true self”. 

DON’T – Ask them why they feel anxious

DO – Ask what they are feeling and challenge their negative thoughts.

Social anxiety is not a rational disorder. Just because you don’t see a situation as stressful, doesn’t mean your friend or family with social anxiety can also see it that way. Asking someone with social anxiety to think rationally about the cause of their anxiety will simply increase their anxiety, because they feel even more helpless. Instead, work with their emotions. Ask them to describe what they are feeling, and instead of dismissing their thoughts, be patient and understanding. Acknowledge their anxiety, but also challenge their negative thinking by offering alternative interpretations. Assure them that their anxiety is making them expect the worst of a situation, and the outcomes they imagined are unlikely to occur in real life.

DON’T – Guilt or blame them for their social anxiety

DO – Be understanding when they need to cancel on plans for their mental health

Social anxiety disorder can occur due to a variety of biological and psychological factors. It is certainly not anyone’s choice to have social anxiety, nor can anyone control which situations might cause them to feel socially anxious. Thus, it is important to be understanding when your friend or family member experience a bout of social anxiety. In some situations, it is helpful to reassure them that their anxiety is irrational, and encourage them to face the situation, but you should always respect their limits, and do not push them to face a situation that they do not feel prepare for. Do not place blame on them if they need to cancel your plans due to their mental health.

DON’T – Coddle them and protect them from situations that may cause anxiety

DO – Support and encourage positive behavior

Myth #1: Social anxiety is the same thing as shyness.

A study found that while about 50% of youth identify themselves as “shy”, only about 12% who do fit the criteria for social anxiety disorder, and some who do not self-identify as “shy” also matched the criteria for social anxiety disorder, suggesting that there is not necessarily a link between shyness and social anxiety.

The biggest difference between social anxiety and shyness is the degree in which it impacts one’s life. Social anxiety disorder is characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social or performance situations, which can cause significant distress. While everyone could experience shyness in different situations, social anxiety is persistent, with each anxious thought pushing you to avoid facing these stressful situations again.

Myth #2: Social anxiety only appear in situations that require public speaking.

Social anxiety refers to experiencing fear and anxiety in many different social situations. These could include formal events, such as public speaking and debating, but also informal conversation, such as meeting new people or going to parties; uncomfortable situations, such as disagreements, and even everyday events, such as eating in front of others. Every person might experience social anxiety a little differently, but all share the same excruciating fear at doing or saying something wrong in each of these situations.

Myth #3: People with social anxiety can just “get over it” by suppressing their negative thoughts.

Social anxiety is caused by more than just negative thoughts. It stems from dysfunction in the amygdala, and area of the brain that controls emotions and fear. Research suggests that people with social anxiety disorder may experience intense amygdala activity during threat evaluation, which could cause stimuli such as a facial expression change or an inaudible conversation to seem like threats, thus triggering intense fear and anxiety. Since anxiety is a biological process, trying to suppress negative thoughts can often make the anxiety worse, as you tend to concentrate more on the negative thoughts the more you try to suppress them.

Myth #4: Socially anxious people should avoid all situations that might trigger their anxiety.

Though avoiding potentially stressful situations may help lessen your anxiety, this is counterproductive to recovery from social anxiety in the long run. Based on the theory of operant conditioning, avoiding situations that may trigger social anxiety to make yourself feel better will reinforce the avoidance of anxiety. Thus, this will lead to an increase in anxious thoughts and behaviors, and begin a cycle of avoidance. Avoiding risks and treating yourself as fragile can also lead you to feel even more socially distant, as well as demoralized about your recovery.

Myth #5: Medications used to treat social anxiety are addictive, and should only be used as a last resort.

Of course.