I relate to a lot of what's been said. I felt invisible as a child. My parents were substance abusers too, so I wasn't # 1. No other kids to play with. I didn't like having friends over because I was embarrassed about my parents. My "inner child" was never allowed to fully develop. I am working on that now.

Most of my family is shy. I agree, animals are the most loyal friends. I have a dog...Another reason why I'm shy might be because in elementry school I was often picked on. For some reason I don't really fit in well. I have 2 close friends who I hang out with and trust. So I guess it's a bit of all three (heireditary, personal experiences and natural character).

I've had arthristis since I was a kid. The kids at school would make fun of the way I walk and the scars I have on my face. To this day I still have problems meeting new people because I'm afraid they will be repulsed with the way I look.

I am shy because I felt rejected by my family. Nothing was ever good enough. And they labeled me shy wich made me even more shy. I was always introduced as the shy one, they did not just say, this is my daughter but also "and she is shy". I was also emotionally, physically and sexually abused by different people. My shyness then was kind of a protection for me so other people would not notice me and be mean.

I have thought about this a great deal. I beleive it has to do with my step father. Growing up I was a Cinderella in regards to how my wicked step father would treat me.
Nothing I did or said was ever correct or proper. How I dressed was never right for him or how I wore my hair.
Bet yet my sister (his bio daugher) could do some of these things and it was ok.
As a result I just withdrew into myself. I never had many friends. I guess I just never really learned how to act or behave in a group setting or how to talk to people I didn't know.

I was protected by a few friends all through my school life. I became to depend on them like a crutch and when the crutch was taken away, or when I was on my own, I didn't know how to handle any kind of situation. I don't blame those people I just believe if I grew up not needing to be protected I'd be better off today. 'When a banana leaves its bunch it usually gets skinned' I guess that's how I feel. That and my ex wasn't so kind to me towards the end of our relationship and I was verbally abused by one kid in highschool. I never stood up for myself....

I believe my shyness relates to the way I was raised. My Father was very critical of everything I did and seemed to go out of his way to ridicule me. It felt that no matter what I did there was something wrong with it. And worse I witnessed him do this to my Mother constantly over the years to the point she would leave the room in tears. I haven't gotten over my shyness or lack of confidence and it is playing hard on my life. I am getting help and trying to help myself but everything is happening too slow!

I was never shy until I turned thirteen and went through my first bout of clinical depression. I'm 22 now (and suffering from severe depression again), and I never truly recovered from it. It turned me into this quivering, shy, anxious person who had trouble making new friends and being sociable. :/

I too had an extremely sheltered upbringing. To this day I have never spent the night at anyone's house, and I'm reluctant to stay out late anywhere for fear of putting myself in a dangerous situation. I judge myself and others a lot too. It's so hard for my family to understand and they always tell me "Just get out there and do it." Easy for them to say; my parents are extremely outgoing and always say the right words. I always felt so overwhelmed, alone and angry at them whenever they forced me to do anything because it never helped. It just made me feel worse about my situation.

I think it's just something that is your personality or something that grows on you.

My experience was very much like yours.

i guess i was too overprotected too that's part of it

I'm shy because every friend I ever made as a child moved away or I got in major fights with. So i struggle with friends. And I also have trich so I'm shy to let people see me beucase of the fear of being jedged.

I think I am shy because I believe I am less than other people.

My mam was English and my dad was Scottish. I was borne in the highlands of Scotland. My mam's english, I inherited her accent. The english aren't popular in the highlands, my family were never really accepted into the small town where they live (still live there now, but I left). Because my family were different to local families, I dressed differently, had different interets and was different to other kids. I guess in primary school I was outgoing and care free and didn't really care what other's thought of me. I got to highschool and my friends were so concious of not looking silly in front of "cool" kids that they'd sometimes mock me and bully me, I guess that's when I started trying to hide myself within myself to be "normal". Also I'm very close with my family, but perhaps they were a little over-protective and I relied on them to avoid undesirable social situations (like getting my mam to pay for something so I didn't have to go to the counter, or getting her to make a phone call for me etc). Also my dad is shy and one of his brother's dosen't leave his house or talk to anyone now(I guess he got really shy). Weird thing is since my bro went through the same as me but came out an extravert! Must be my genes, something I always had?