beat social anxiety

I’ve discovered that most of my social anxiety is based on the fact that I get intimidated by people very easily and I find it very dificult to let those people see who I really am. With other people who talk to me easily, or who are not intimidating to me I can open up to them pretty easily.

So, I am trying to focus on not being so easily intimidated by others. But, I’m very happy that I’ve found one of the sources of my anxiety.

Well, I have two best friends who I can be my crazy self with. They know about my anxiety and actually make me look forward to the next time I am in a social situation. They don’t force me but don’t prevent me from being involved in the social situation. I don’t know what I’d do without them. They helped me realize that I care way too much what people think about me. I prevent myself from being socially involved so I don’t make a fool of myself if I say the wrong thing…and I thought it was helping me. But it’s not…it has been turning me into an outcast who people ignore. The new me…who is more socially involved is befriended by new people and liked for me. Maybe this won’t be so hard after all…

I’m sick of hiding from everybody. When I don’t talk to people they think it’s because i’m a mean person, but i just don’t want to say something that will embarass me. I try to tell myself that they think like me and no one really cares about what another person says, but i still think if i try to talk to other people it will just embarass me.

I have never told this to anyone before. I have social anxiety. Everytime someone whispers or laughs I think they are making fun of me, so I am withdrawn from them. I tell myself I am worthless so I can think they are not talking about me, and that I am no one special. If anyone with social anxiety has overcome this, please tell me how.

I can deal with it, but everyday’s a struggle. I know I can get through this.