So the question you can ask yourself is "What is Normal". Normal means something different for all of us. I think one of the things we have to do to help with the shyness is stop thinking we are different in a way that makes us bad. We are still NORMAL people who function day to day but because of who we are, aren't as outgoing and extroverted as others are.
I don't know how to cure it because it is such a part of who I am. Just do your best to accept who you are.

I agree!! Its just our personality............the way we were made! Theres nothing much we can do about it so just smile and do your best with what you have!!! The thing to do is allways be positive and you'll find you get much further in life :D

You've got a good outlook on life, you awesome shy people! Our world is an astonishing place. The jungles and deserts and rivers and seas are stocked with an abundance of life, and locked inside those life forms is the treatment and cure for so many afflictions and diseases - some say the treatments and cures for every affliction and disease that besets humankind. We've only discovered and worked with a tiny bit of those substances. People spend their entire working lives in laboratories combining and re-combining chemicals to try to find treatmens for cancer and the common cold, when the answer is probably out there inside some sea urchin or in the inner bark of some tree. I think that people like you and me are a lot like that idea: Inside us and inside other people is the mechanism for overcoming shyness. Perhaps we have to discover it, or perhaps it must be activated by something outside of ourselves. We've been in the laboratory too long. Perhaps one of us already knows how to overcome shyness but just hasn't had the means or opportunity to try it. There will be an answer in time. Be bold, my shy friends. Be bold. :)

inspiring beaumont!!! you make me want to go out there and be megga bold now! show the world what I'm made of heehee :) your very good with words! thanks

I think that shyness is just a form of social anxiety and it should be treated somehow. I went to the therapy but it didn't help me with shyness. I planning to find a better therapist and try some NLP techniques. Shyness have practically destroyed my life and I don't think it should be taken lightly, it's stands in the way and prevents you to be successful in life.

When I was at school...I found it very difficult cos of my shyness...I ended up being the target for the bullies...In the end I believed it was me...No one liked me...cos I was not likable...I was being bullied cos I was a horrible person...& I was thick...

It took me some years to realize that NO I am not thick...People do like me...the people that matter...So I can not be all chatty & out going in a group...I can 1 2 1...

Now when I look around at other people I see that they are no different to me...They might find it easier to interact...but not a LOT more then me...

I am not the sort of person to push myself forward...but I do have friends...Like minded friends...

I have nothing to say after saying I am fine,how are you?or I can go from that to talking about my personal life.It is so weird. then I regret it so bad ,that next time I will just say hi!

There's no such thing as normal. Though sometimes I feel like it seems like shyness is not acceptable. Good jobs seem to looks for outgoing people. It makes me feel inadequate.
I want to beat being shy though. I try to pretend I'm outgoing it but it's hard to be someone I'm not too.

i have heard this sentence for many times " just accept yourself as it is" i tried to do so since it has been hard to me to change anything however, i coudn't accept just being shy. i have another person inside of me this person find her way to the reality online only. i want the same person appears everywhere and anytime. i wnat to express my feeling front of people not just front of my mirror or online. Some people accpet bing shy and they are very happy because they found their comfort by being this way. But for me and you guys since we have realized that we are shy people that means we are not satisfied and there is a person inside each one of us wants to see the light. lets try hard and i will get my power from you guys :)

Good luck

I've had a lot of set backs too. While everyone else was laughing and smiling I was trying to just think of something to say. Of course it made everyone else was put off by my quietness. "Is everything ok?" they ask. I dread hearing someone say "We've got to get you out of your shell". Having to try so hard to do what comes naturally to everyone else is discouraging. There is no quick fix. When others on this discussion have advised other people to accept themselves they aren't taking the problem lightly. They just think shy people should take the burden of blame off of themselves. Do you best. Learn from mistakes. Keep trying.