I know how you feel.....too bad we can't just borrow some self esteem from someone who has too much! lol

I know how you feel. In fact today I was feeling like I wish I could "throw" this me away and be a more outgoing happier me.

I know what you mean! It's so hard. It seems like once you get labeled by people as shy, then that's it. They don't give you a second chance. And the sad thing is, that given time, many of us can open up and talk more. We just need more time to feel comfortable, but people just don't give us the chance.

I know! I get so paranoid that people are thinking bad things about me. Like, when I read in class I think that everyone is judging me. It's annoying!

I'm sorry. I guess I'm guilty of doing that, now that I think about it. If someone doesn't respond enthusiatically or loudly when I talk to them, I just feel like they hate me or something.
Maybe it would help to know the other people are shy too? We "judgers" are self-conscious-well, I know that's the reason I think shy people want me to leave them alone.
Sorry if this isn't really helping.

Being 'quiet' because you are shy seems to backfire all the time. Not so long ago my hubbys mum told him on the phone that she doesnt like me much because I don't talk to her when we see her. This really hurt because I am shy despite knowing her for 21 years and I freeze up and dont know what to say.....
Its horrible feeling like this and its horrible that people make their own impression of you and to be honest are more often than not totally wrong. She didnt want to come and stay but she did and I plucked up the courage to tell her how I felt and I think she is a bit more understanding now. From what I was reading on some 'shyness' website last night its best to just tell someone straight away that you are shy..but crikey, this is a hard thing to do in itself. (sigh)

i understand in 6th grade at my school my friend told me people thought i was arrogant and mad but i wasn't.

its tough....i went through high school being known as a shy guy i didnt talk to almost anyone except for my closest friends not because i didnt want to but because i didnt know how. i agree. almost every day i wish that I could be the real me that I know is just hiding right now and i understand that it gets frustrating i feel the same way