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 hide it in perkiness and hysteria and silliness. 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?)
Just remember, being the quiet girl is
much more appealing than being the blabby party girl.
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