Sorry, I didn't mean to triple post. I was having technical difficulties.

Social anxiety isn't constant. Plus, I didn't know they were there as I told you guys in an earlier post. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Sometimes I'm really shy, other times I'm really outgoing, it comes and goes in bouts. Something that helped my during one shy bout was working in a retail store. It was my job to greet people and offer help, so I had to go up and talk to them. At first it was kinda scary, but after awhile it builds your confidence. Plus, the interaction is pretty short & there's not a lot of pressure to have deep conversation.
Good luck
Heidi

Hi SH80! I am totally pulling for you, girl! You know...it might not be social anxiety at all, perhaps far from it...perhaps it has just elevated into a habit? That is, a habit of being very scared of interaction...were you very shy when you were a little girl, too? That might have something to do with it. Plus, since everything's harder when you grow older, the fear must have intensified quite a bit.

In elementary school, I used to be somewhat shy, at times. However, i'm also the type of person who can be SOO outgoing at times, too. I realized that the more that I thought about shyness, the more shy I would become. ALSO, shyness to others is usually unfortunately perceived as snobbiness/reserve. Do you ever seem distant to others, perhaps?

AND, body language really helps, too! I find any person who doesn't look at you while you are talking to them somewhat rude-ish. Also, I find a person who crosses his arms somewhat closed-off. I do undersatnd though that sometimes they are just feeling awkward with the situation http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif. What kind of body language do you have? I'm sure that you are a WONDERFUL person...now walk into a room, and BELIEVE that, honey!! The aura that you give off truly affects how people react to you.

Also...maybe if you did something really wonderful for yourself, you would feel better about yourself...which would immediately translate to self-confidence, which immediately translates to an attractive person, which others will see immediately? Maybe get that new top you've been eyeing (not too-low-cut of course! It's all in the way you wear it.), go get some new kinds of exercise that will be invigorating for your body/mind, get a new hairstyle??

These are just all suggestions, I'm hoping that I'm at least helping you a little!! I know that you are a wonderful person, now KNOW it and ACT like it, honey! It's not being arrogant...it's just knowing that you are WORTH it. That confidence is so attractive, and I guarantee that friends will be swarming to you.

Also, please don't hesitiate to visit a Therapist. SO many times, people hold the misconception that visiting a Therapist is only for a so-called "sick" patient. That is simply not true. I have a friend who is perrfectly normal/sane/whatever who visits her Therapist just about every 2 weeks...just to get everything off her mind. I firmly believe that you should do whatever you can to make yourself feel better http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif.

I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense to you--but I'm hoping it will! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Write back, and good luck, we're all pulling for you SH80!

Hmmm. Does this social anxiety cause you to "bounce your boobs in front of janitors", as you told us you did in an earlier post?