Don't bother. That relief that people talk about it temporary. Never lasts. And then not only are you stuck with the effects the next day, there is the deflated feeling that it was all fake. Sure, alcohol loosens lips a bit and helps to drop that shyness. That was one reason I started drinking. I wanted to do what other people were doing - going to parties, drink and boom, all of a sudden you're popular! Or at least it feels like you're popular. It's all a facade. And believe me - I am an alcoholic. Drank 25 years. Sober 2 years. I chased after that feeling of trying to fit in, of not tripping over my own tongue, of trying to feel comfortable in my own skin, and while it may have worked temporarily, I never had it for real. It was like trying to catch smoke.

It's just now in these last two years that I am trying to deal with my introverted nature, my avoidance of people, of the fear of talking to new people. I am better, but I have some tools from my recovery program. It sounds like alcohol is not and should't be your friend. It certainly wasn't mine! And then there is the thing of sharing too much, of opening up too much, and then the regret that comes with that after.

Not worth it!

From experience I can say that yes in social settings I tend to have a beer to loosen up because i have such intense social anxiety in large groups. It does help to an extent but at the same time I've noticed that even with that one beer I talk too much and sometimes just end up sounding like a rambling idiot and then the next day I'm kicking myself because I feel like I made a fool out of myself and wasnt acting like myself. So if you don't feel comfortable drinking, don't like the side effects or don't feel it helps you, dont do it. It seems to effect everyone differently.

I used alcohol to overcome my social anxiety and shyness for 10 years and became a hardcore alcoholic because of it and eventually it made my anxiety worse. Using alcohol to help me overcome social anxiety only made things worse because I started to always need it in social settings. Quitting alcohol and forcing myself to go into social settings that make me uncomfortable has helped a lot and made me stronger. I also used to drink wayyy too much when I was nervous to be around people and ended up usually making a complete ass out of myself. So glad that doesn't happen anymore!

Alcohol isn't the answer in the long run, take baby steps and force yourself to be in situations that make you uncomfortable you are stronger than you think and you can overcome it with time!

No, it doesn't. People drink for different reasons, but shy people may use it as a band aid. A band aid, that covers the wound, but doesn't stop the bleeding.

Of course, this is just my opinion. I do not mean to offend anyone.

I tried drinking to relax. I liked it, because It helped the anxiety. That was also the day I never drank again. For one, it tastes awful, and two I saw myself relying on it too much and becoming an alcoholic.

There are ways of overcoming, dealing, with social anxiety, I hope no one turns to drinking.

I have used alcohol to overcome my shyness because I feel like the more I drink the more fun I become, But i am slowly starting to realize that the truth is that the more I drink the more I just embarrass myself by being sloppy and falling everywhere, saying and doing things i regret and generally just acting like a big idiot. So i would never recommend to anyone to use alcohol to overcome shyness. Id recommend starting off slow and getting one of your friends to hang out with you and ask them to bring along a friend that you dont know. Its easier to get to know someone when ur in a small group and when you allrdy know someone in that group.