Being shy sucks, for real

After spending a summer alone and then starting college alone, I've come to a realization that didn't even occur to me in high school; I'm incredibly shy. It wasn't much something I ever dwelt on in high school. After all, the friends I had were outgoing and I'd known most of them for years. This summer I moved to Georgia for a brief period of time, convinced that--when I wasn't working--I'd go out and have fun and meet new people. I figured this would be easy, everyone I've ever met says that I'm a great person and really easy to get along with. Well these plans came to a halt when I realized I was shy. As in terribly shy. I only talked to someone that I didn't know twice. Once, was the guy that served me coffee, I asked him how he'd recommend meeting new people and then another, I left a note on someone's table. Both ended in my shaking and in essence almost having a panic attack.

It's not that I don't want to meet new people, I do, it's just that I guess in a way I'm afraid of how people will view, or that they'll reject me before they know me. Because of this, I haven't made an effort(out of fear/shyness) in any of my classes to talk to anyone. I've become somewhat of a recluse, if you will, and I'm starting to get the feeling that I'm getting a reputation of being a bitch.

So, my question here is how do you guys get over shyness? What are some tips you have or do you even have some funny stories? You know, things like that.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Lycanthrope

I'm shy, too.

It's not that I'm afraid of meeting new people, though. I'll talk to strangers. I can generally make friends if I'm in a setting where I have none already.

My problem is public speaking. I cannot stand being in front of a crowd. As I have Comm. Skills next semester, I can foresee that as a problem. It's just that when I get up in front of people, I start to shake. My voice shakes, my body shakes, and I basically fall apart right in front of people.

I don't know what causes this reaction in me, whether it's that I'm afraid of people or what they will think of me, or what. I've tried everything imaginable, from looking at everyone's left ears instead of into their eyes to imagining them in their underwear.

Nothing works. The shaking persists.

As silly as it sounds, when I'm in plays, whenever I tend to get a bit nervous before I go on stage, so do a little dance thing. You know, the whole shake your whole body out look like a silly buffoon. It does wonders in getting out some of the nervousness.

There's nowhere I can't reach.