You just describe my life. I just kept working to makeme be less shy ( am still working) . As for not looking people in the face. I am still not great at it but I had a friend that would not speak to me unless i looked him in the face. It was very hard at first When I am going through a stage I don't want to do that I remember how hard he worked to get to do that and I think you know if I revert back to the old me he would be so disappointed. Maybe you need someone like that. I bet you even have someone like that in your world

I CANT GIVE ADDVICE YET CUZ I JUST GOT HERE MYSELF BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL AND IT SOUNDS LIKE MORE PEOPLE DO TO SO...MAYBE WE WILL HELP EACHOTHER. IM HERE FOR YOU OK HUGS! AND SWEETWISHES!

Do you look up when you walk? I didn't used to, and I didn't used to look people in the eyes when we talked. I still have trouble with it, and tend to look down, then in their eyes, and switch back and forth because I feel very uncomfortable holding someone's gaze, but if you look up when you walk, it will gradually become easier and second nature. Once you do that, look into the faces of people you're passing, their eyes, etc. This is also hand because if you're looking up, you'll be able to notice if they're saying hi to you or not :]

Good luck

thanks for your comments and advice everyone! well HONESTYis i try my best to look up and when i do i also find it a bit easier but i also have times where i tend to look down and notice people saying hi to me. i will try to do that more often. klwebb i wish i had a friend like yours i will probably be pissed at them but i guess that's the kind of person i need in my life. hugs for everyone! have a great weekend!

thanks for this post, this is so much like my experience!

i usually look behind me to see if the smile or wave was directed at someone else. that sure ticks them off if it was intended for me:).

my most comfortable time socially was a year when i was able to take the bus everywhere instead of driving and force myself to do something i'd stink at (e.g. left handed bowling or ice skating) in front of people so i would desensitize myself to what other people thought. i have no time to do that anymore but remember the comfort level fondly.

you mention family,can i ask, are your siblings older and more outgoing? my 4 are and that made me feel badly about myself and my shyness growing up.

anyway, i've found that trying not to make it so important to myself has helped. it doesn't really matter how many people i talk to or don't today, as long as i know what brings me peace and make an effort to achieve that every day. ds has sure helped me a lot with that.

yeah i'm the same exact way. i hope you're doing ok

For me I think jioning this site has helped. I have a plan that at least on the week end I am going to come on here and reply to every post. I think that will make use my brain so when I get in a situation where I a nervous to talk it will easier to think of a topic because my brrain is used to thinking quickly. I have no idea if it will but I am trying it today