Social Anxiety 2

[salisbury]

Following from the scoial anxiety question, I suffer similarly but maybe not as bad. I find it very hard to disagree with people or put people straight.

Another thing I have noticed is that I always struggle for conversation and am really hopeless with small talk.....

I always get these awkward moments in group situations where theres a silence, and wish i could take responsibilty and MAKE CONVERSATION.

alot of people at my work are a lot more chatty and they look like happier people so i can understand why maybe i seem unapproachable because i put barriers up and am not an open book like some other people i know.

What makes it harder is that lads that are younger than me that work at the same place, find it easey to put people straight and let them know if they are being annoying, whilst i just sit back and let people annoy me or patronize me. I WANT TO CHANGE BUT ITS SO HARD : (

[Cheesefreek]

How old are you salisbury - I was exactly the same as you when I was younger, but as you get older your confidence definitely grows, and now I don't put up with any crap. It happened fairly gradually, but it's amazing how once you start putting people right, you get the confidence to carry on. People will respect you more, and this will probably lead on to the problem of small talk. You won't care what you talk about, and neither will anyone else. They'll just be glad that someone else filled the silence. It's always best to ask questions. Then when they answer, it just leads on to a normal conversation.

[salisbury]

i am 23 and 24 in august.....

people often say im too hard on myself and beat myself up about it and that i really am not that shy, but i really am.

People take advantage of me and even tho i can see it myself, i react too slowly too it and in turn do not stand up for what i believe is right....I sometimes think being loud and throwing tantrums is the way forward and people who are like that have an easier life

[kate1976]

I'm exactly the same salisbury and I'm 29! I'm hopeless with small talk even with my closest friends! I'm getting better as the years go by though so I do think it is a confidence thing!

I know quite a few people who are the same too so at least we're not alone!