overcome my social anxiety

It was a strange overnight thing. All the things I kept getting told suddenly clicked at once, but it wasn’t a conscious thing. I just realized I was fine all of a sudden.

I no that sounds like a stupid question but i just cant seem to get words out of my mouth. Im am not exactly the best at communicating with people and am very reserved so its really hard for ppl to no how i feel. I just want to be able to be comfortable to talk to people and actually hold a conversation. Uni is almost over for the year and well i need to get a summer job but am terrified about havign an interview. I dont seel myself and always keep any sort of response brief. So its gonna be well hard to get a job out of this. I did have a job before and am not regretting leaving casue at least ti would have done although i dont want to be stacking shelives all my life.

But the buggest problem about this is i dont know where to start.

I’m slowly taking tiny steps to overcome my social anxiety. There’s much more to get done, though.

I am 20 years old and I have strong social anxiety. I used to play hockey, have friends, etc but for the past four years i just became more and more reserved, until i finally dropped out of school, stopped playing hockey, and did not stay stay in contact with my friends. I deeply regret doing this now, but i do have a supporting (but not completely understanding) girlfriend who is trying to get me to go out places. I also have a job where i interact with people, its just when i have to go to different places such as out to dinner or shopping that i get extremely nervous, and feeling somewhat sick. Any comments on how i can work on getting more comfortable in different places?

i have suffered with this since childhood, i think the cause was a parent who was afflicted with perfectionism and low self esteem, making me feel inadequate in many ways.
the anxiety took different levels throughout my life, sometimes it was very mild, sometimes disabling to the point that i would not go out, or attempt to attend a social function, drive 40km to get there and turn straight back.
what really helped me overcome this is YOGA, subtle changes over months went first almost unnoticed, now i WANT to be out there.
i no longer fear crowds, busy places, new people and situations, i am perfectly content going out on my own and just take it as it comes.
PHEW!

Living in a foreign country, working now in a company where I meet new people and new situations everyday has certainly helped me fighting my social anxiety. I don’t panic anymore at the thought of going to the post office, but I still feel very uncomfortable talking in groups and even more in front of a public, and avoid it as much as possible. Answering the phone is also a big problem, my hands start shaking when I don’t recognize the number ! So still some work for 2008 !

It’s taken me years to get to where I am today, but I’m totally comfortable with either being by myself or being in a room full of strangers.

I’m still quiet and reserved at times, but that’s just a part of my personality. Of course, I have moments where I’m totally judgmental, but I’ve learned to just not care anymore and just go with the flow. I think I still have some issues with being an overall approachable person, but I’ve taken huge steps forward in the last year and I’m just really glad that I’m not socially awkward around people anymore.

I’ve had horrible social anxiety since I was a little girl, but it’s gotten worse over the past two years. I had close friends and all, but now I’m basically alone. The only two people I’m close to are my boyfriend and best friend, who’s his cousin. This year, my senior year, has been the loneliest of my life. The more people I distance myself from, the more isolated I feel. I have no close girlfriends, which is extremely lonely, and I’m terrified of getting close to people, since whenever I put my trust in people, they just screw me over. I have no idea what to do about my social anxiety. I’m seeing a therapist for depression, but he doesn’t seem to recognize the social anxiety problems that I have.

people still annoy me but atleast now i deal with it a bit better.

what a difference a year can make. Getting my residence meant i didn’t view everything as tansient, something i’d have to leave behind, so getting to know people seemed worthwhile. I felt worthwhile too, and i think for me that was at the root of the problem. So, over a year on now, i think i’m back to the person i was before.