How to cope with being shy

How to cope with being shy

Dear Mookychick,

Please help with some confidence advice. I’ve always been a quiet girl, it’s just the way I am. But in the past year or so, I’ve noticed that this is almost forming into social awkwardness. When someone says something to me or asks me a question, I get so nervous I can barely think, and I usually just look to my older sisters to answer for me. I can never keep conversations going with anyone besides my sisters (I even find myself getting nervous around them sometimes, though).

I have acquaintances, but not friends, and the only time I leave my house is when I’m forced to. I know my family is worried about my social skills, but I always feel so weird and out of place when my sisters take me places with them.

I’m only fourteen right now. On top of all the things I’m going through as a teen, this awful awkwardness has been making me miserable lately. I really don’t want to grow up being completely alone, without good friends and without dating anyone. Any advice you have would help me greatly. Thank you.

Help!

Love, Anonymous Me xxx

The Mookychick answer to your problem

Ashley says…

Sounds like you’re just an introvert. The misery and awkwardness? Everyone around you is going through that too – the difference is, they might choose to hide it in perkiness. People usually drain you of energy, aside from a few you can stand most of the time, like your sisters.

In a world where most people don’t think before they speak, it can be difficult being someone who does mull things over. But that’s OK. That’s who you are. You’re not alone in being tripped up every time someone passes you and, in the half second they do, says “How’s it going?” (The proper answer, I’ve gathered, is, “What’s up?” – responding to a question not with an answer but with another question to which you don’t expect an answer. How counter-intuitive is that?)


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