Life as an Introvert with Social Anxiety

The Outcast

Introverts have always been considered outcasts. We’re stereotyped as selfish and antisocial, but I disagree. Introverts are just as friendly as extroverts and prefer to spend time with people with who they have a deep connection.

That’s not always easy for us introverts—we struggle to make new friends and date new people. But there are solutions to this problem! Here’s how it’s done:

It seems everyone I meet thinks I hate them.

For many years, people assumed that because I am an introvert, I am antisocial and unfriendly. However, being an introvert does not imply shutting down; rather, it means taking time to recharge before engaging with others.

In fact, for some introverts who need peace and quiet to recharge their batteries after working hard all day or studying late into the night before an exam, socializing can be exhausting.

Introverts are not shy; they simply prefer to spend more time alone than most extroverts do to recharge their batteries (or whatever they call that). They also don’t hesitate to go out alone at night because they know how much better they feel when they’re surrounded by nature rather than people (or technology).

I find it difficult to make eye contact with more than one person in a group.

Because I’m afraid of being judged by others, I avoid making eye contact.

I don’t make friends easily.

I don’t easily make friends.

I’m terrible at small talk.

I find it difficult to make friends, and when I do, it’s usually because he or she has asked for my assistance with something, or we share common interests.

Having said that, my social anxiety makes me feel uneasy around people I don’t know well—I avoid them whenever possible!

Socializing is difficult for me.

I struggle with socializing. I dislike being touched and avoid making eye contact with others. When I’m out with friends and we’re talking about something personal, like our feelings about our parents or childhoods, I’ll just stop in the middle of a sentence and stare at my shoes until it’s time to go home.

It doesn’t help that my social anxiety makes it difficult for me even when there aren’t other people around; sometimes when I’m alone in my room, I’ll feel as if everyone in the room is staring at me from across the room (or worse: from behind closed doors).

That is why socializing is so difficult! If only there was a solution to this problem…

When I go out by myself, I am concerned about what other people will think of me or how they will perceive me.

I’m constantly concerned with what other people will think of me or how they will perceive me when I go out alone.

I dislike going out by myself. When I do, my anxiety goes into overdrive, and it feels like someone is squeezing my chest with a vice grip until my heart stops beating. It’s difficult to breathe when this happens.

It’s also awkward and uncomfortable in social situations where other people are present, especially if they’re discussing something personal or emotional (like their family). In those moments, just having one person present makes me feel as if no matter what happens next (say, someone asking them how their day went), all eyes are on me rather than them!

Phone calls are my worst nightmare.

Phone calls are the worst nightmare of my life. I’ve tried to improve my phone skills, but it hasn’t happened yet.

I call people all the time, but when it’s time to talk on the phone, my brain shuts down and I can’t think straight. It’s as if I have no words in my head—only fear! When you talk to someone face to face, you can see their body language and facial expressions; they make eye contact with each other (and vice versa), and they may lean in toward each other during conversation,

It’s simply more natural than using a phone because there is no interface between two people talking over the phone line any more than there would be between two humans sitting next to each other at a restaurant table sharing a meal.

There is no physical connection between them unless they run into each other later down south, where fantasyland exists solely in our minds—where “in person” means nothing more than “not here physically.”

I’ve been told my anxiety makes me ‘unapproachable.’

You’re probably wondering why I’m writing about this. Why should people who suffer from anxiety be concerned about how others perceive them? Because it can make a huge difference in your life.

People who suffer from social anxiety frequently believe that they are not like other people and that their behavior is unusual or out of the ordinary.

They may also be concerned that others will judge their actions and draw negative conclusions about them as a result of those actions (for example: “I was nervous today, so when she laughed at my joke, I assumed she thought it was stupid”).

This can make them feel uneasy around new people they’ve known for years or even met at work; especially if you’ve known someone for years but never really talked much before now—you may feel anxious around them as well!

I’m not antisocial; I’m selectively social.

I’m not antisocial; I simply need to unwind after being around people.

I’m picky about who I spend my time with.

I don’t enjoy going out with large groups of people, but I enjoy going out with small groups of friends and family.

Public speaking is my worst fear in life.

My greatest fear in life is speaking in public. I’m an introvert with social anxiety, so even thinking about talking in front of people (or even alone) causes me to freeze and get butterflies in my stomach.

The good news is that public speaking isn’t as terrifying as you may believe! It’s the same as anything else: practice makes perfect! If I can overcome my fear by practicing with friends or family members every day, anyone can!

The first step is to find someone who will listen to all of your embarrassing public speaking stories. You could try recording yourself practicing so they can hear how bad your voice sounds when talking into a microphone for the first time—and don’t worry about what other people think because everyone has their own fears; we all have our own demons from which we must fight each day forward through sheer strength alone…

When you discover an activity that fills your cup, you feel more confident and fulfilled in all aspects of your life.

• Find a hobby that you enjoy.

• Set aside time for yourself.

• Make time for others, but not at the expense of your own happiness and health. For example, if a friend wants to see a movie but doesn’t want to make plans with you, tell them that’s fine—you’ll just hang out at home or somewhere less crowded. You should do what is best for both of you!

Introverts with social anxiety also need to feel loved and appreciated, even if they don’t show it outwardly like extroverts do.

Introverts with social anxiety, like extroverts, need to feel loved and appreciated, even if they don’t show it outwardly.

It’s not that introverts are antisocial; it’s just that they find it difficult to express their emotions in public.

They prefer to keep things internalized, so getting them to talk about what’s bothering them on their terms will be difficult. Instead of telling your friend that he/she is annoying or making fun of his/her new haircut, try questioning him/her about what he/she believes is bothering him/her. (For example, “I’ve noticed how quiet you’ve been recently—is there anything bothering you?”) and then listen while he/she talks through whatever issues are on his/her mind at the time—you can always tell when someone truly cares by how much effort they put into listening rather than passing judgment on what another person said or did!

Conclusion

The world is a wonderful place, and it’s important to remember that as an introvert with social anxiety.  You can learn to live happily without constantly interacting with other people if you allow yourself to be more comfortable in your own skin. That isn’t to say you should abandon your social skills entirely; rather, don’t let them take over your life! Consider taking up a hobby or volunteering in a space where you won’t be required to speak much.

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. I hope it was informative, insightful, and most importantly, useful to you. Mental health is an important topic that affects us all, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts with you.

If you have any thoughts or comments, I encourage you to leave them in the comment box below. Your feedback is essential to me and helps me create content that is tailored to your needs.

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