Seems I've gotten like a couple of times. ---With repetitions ev en. :(
However i became carefuller and carefuller until I reached a point where my reclusiveness and carefulness was about equal to be benefits I received from being *somewhat* outgoing.
I mean a point where the costs/benefits were about equal. I mean costs/benefits of shy behaviour.
I sometimes put my foot in my mouth, saying moronic things.
Some place where I have really screwed up, I beginning talking less. But become quiet only to the point where I'd be *completely* missing out.

'Course everybody's nervous for the first day or so. . . . . If U ever DO see those ppl, run over and appologize then get the heck out. They'll love ya'. // Repeat, leave quick. Do not stick around to make small talk, or somethin' bad will happen will happen. ..But they'll go home thinking, "There is one person not trying to be perfect. Gosh I could feel at home around her. (Not like these other females with their practiced lines.)" . . . I'm into Catcher in the Rye, and think everyone is into games. So I figure a person who appologizes..and frankly shows embarrassment..is more sincere than most.
gotta go...oops, 1 more thing: we see movies every once on awhile, someone falls down, but with the person who saw it'''''''they eventually become good friends. . . . bye, Caleb

Hi Kailajo. I know how you feel. When I first noticed I had anxiety issues, (about 15 years ago), I could hardly talk to people. I would get so nervous and sweaty. I remember one time, I was talking to these 2 people, and I couldn't even look into their eyes. I had no idea what was going on with me. I was on the job, and my job was dealing with people. I finally talked to my doctor about it, and he put me on Xanax. That did the trick! Even now, 15 years later, I still have these issues when talking to people face to face. Xanax works for me. Maybe you could talk to your doctor and see if there's something he/she can do for you. Anxiety is terrible!

Hope you feel better,

Joey

Sweety, the best way to handle what you are fearing, is getting over the fear and laughing at the situation, but never at yourself. We all do things like that, I don't care who we are. Sometimes that is how we meet friends, by doing something silly. Don't be so hard on yourself, Okay? Hugs GB

I work with people all the time, that is my job. And I can be soo outgoing and fun at times and then others...for some reason...i clam up and i cant do anything! That happened to me a lot at school, too! I used to get so mad at myself..."why am i like this? why cant i just be normal at school?? what is the problem here??" but then, it took me a while, but i began to see that you just have to stop attacking yourself to find your 'problem'. Anxiety can be crippling, but attacking yourself is only going to make it worse. Of course there is medication that helps a lot of people, but personally, I'm not for all of that. I'd rather keep my body as natural as possible. Don't get upset the next time it happens, just try to consciously remind yourself that you're only human just like everyone else. What ever you can come up with to repeat to yourself in your mind to bring your senses back down so you can relax a bit. It's a change of habit. You can do it! It may take a little bit of time before you completely shake this anxiety, but once you are successful at it it will boost your confidence way up and you'll be well on your way. I am a person who can be way too hard on my self too, so i understand what you're going through. It's hard. But you can push through it!! You just hold your head high!!

Thank you all. I feel slightly better today. I did manage to talk to someone. I just feel like I'm really bad socially. I recognize that I'm super clumsy, I never make eye contact, and just feel awkward and out of place in social situations. I will try to stop attacking myself for it and whenever I get anxious, but it's frustrating. And keyz, I started Zoloft and Trazodone like two months ago and my last appointment with the psychiatrist I told her that the Zoloft wasn't really helping but she didn't seem to care. I feel like she doesn't believe me.

Hi Kailajo,

I too used to have horrible social anxiety. My bottom lip would quiver and my insides would feel like jelly. I could not wait to escape to the comforts of my on home. This made me feel horrible because I always loved to be around people...it made no sense as to why I felt that way...which made me feel worse. I know exactly how you feel.

Here's the thing though, once I began working on my anxiety in general I overcame my social anxiety also. I kicked the anxiety habit about 5 years ago and really have a hard time remembering just how hard it used to be for me. I am very social and love love love being around people.

As for meds. As you overcome anxiety those nervous feelings are the main thing that will help you to beat anxiety. They become your "warning system" which will alert you to take action and turn the situation at hand around. Meds will temporarily take away those nervous feelings but meds will NEVER take away anxiety. To do that you will need to make some changes.

I have a 12 weeks tool kit of how I learned to overcome anxiety on my journal page....friend me if interested. Lucinda Bassett has an awesome program as does Claire Weekes.

Anxiety no longer rules my life....you can get to this same point!

My best to you!

oh my gosh i can relate so well! i'm 20 years old, i should be social i should be making friends, but i'm so terribly awkward (i think) i wonder what i look like through others eyes, like, are my cheeks as red as i think they are my face feels so hot! why can't i make eye contact? why am i so sweaty? why do i rethink what i am about to say over and over and then eventually just awkwardly nod my head or give a sheepish smile. it's so embarrassing every. single. time. i wish i could find a friend to go to the store with, or get my nails done with so we could challenge each other to get out of our comfort zones and bond over the same anxiety. my boyfriend has NO clue what it's like when EVERY social encounter is a nightmare.