OT: What is your personality like? Do you have social issues?

[alisha27]

I have been shy all my life, I find it very difficult to have a conversation with new people. I don't have many friends and I like keeping to myself. I am happiest alone...sadly. I am afraid I will die old and lonely because I don't allow anyone in my life. Some times I feel what's the point in having friends if I can't be brave and go out with them. I blame this stupid phobia for the most part because I get scared of embarrassing myself and nobody will want to hang around a Debbie Downer. I find it uncomfortable to walk towards another person and have to give eye contact and a "hello" and smile. I usually look a different direction or look down. I don't even feel beautiful anymore. I been through a bad relationship in the past where I was physically assaulted and told I would never be somebody. I have never been able to shake my insecurity and find a happy place in life. I feel so uncomfortable in my own skin...this is not who I am. Anyone else out there like this...or are you a happy person and love to be outgoing and social? What is your personality like?

[KaydeeJayde]

My personality is fairly normal, despite what I've been through in the past. I was in a relationship where I wasn't respected, and I guess I was abused, though I don't think of it like that. I don't find it hard to trust people, though they need to earn my respect before I'll give it to them, but I think that goes without saying.

I have low self esteem, but I don't think I'm ugly. I have a pretty face, I just hate my body more than anything in the world. But I know that's all in my control.

As for my personality itself, I like to think I'm funny, have a good sense of humour, I'm intelligent, quiet around people I don't know, but I'm loud when I'm with people I'm comfortable around. I'm a good actor and singer and I'm outgoing onstage, as long as I can't see the audience...

I do love life, I just don't like the emet side of life.

[triciamassey]

I have been shy all my life, I find it very difficult to have a conversation with new people. I don't have many friends and I like keeping to myself. I am happiest alone...sadly. I am afraid I will die old and lonely because I don't allow anyone in my life. Some times I feel what's the point in having friends if I can't be brave and go out with them. I blame this stupid phobia for the most part because I get scared of embarrassing myself and nobody will want to hang around a Debbie Downer. I find it uncomfortable to walk towards another person and have to give eye contact and a "hello" and smile. I usually look a different direction or look down. I don't even feel beautiful anymore. I been through a bad relationship in the past where I was physically assaulted and told I would never be somebody. I have never been able to shake my insecurity and find a happy place in life. I feel so uncomfortable in my own skin...this is not who I am. Anyone else out there like this...or are you a happy person and love to be outgoing and social? What is your personality like?

You just basically descibed me in this paragraph..I am the exact same way as you are..

[pretendworld_]

I am the exact same as well. I don't know what caused me to be so shy as a kid but I never quite grew out of it and now at 22 I have only a handful of friends. I hate trying to develop new friendships/relationships and have horrible self esteem issues. Throw emet into the mix and you've got a problem :-/

[Kristen11]

Im very outgoing, was a gymnist and cheerleader my entir life. Had a good social life in high school, did my fair share of partying and going out. Now that im in college and have a boyfriend and work I dont go out. But I like social interaction and I love talking to people. Im a closet emet so I guess im pretty normal in social situations. I dont really hang out with my friends too much tho because of emet

[ssjj]

I am quite a shy person when it comes to meeting new people but I am not shy in the slightest with my friends. I think I'm just picky about the people I let in

[JustLacey]

I used to have this : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_mutism

And Aspergers, very mild. And Anxiety

[hairyfairy]

I know what you mean about shynes & eye contact, because I have a terrible time holding eye conact with people, & I really hate it when people stare.

[shhhh]

I'm very much an introvert, but I can socialise and network with few inhibitions. I just prefer a good book and the melody of my own thoughts.

[crd08]

I'm an introvert, but I'm not as bad as I used to be. I still consider myself socially awkward, but I come out of my shell when I need to. I can socialize, I just also prefer alone time.
I think my shyness started in 1st grade because I was telling my mom how I really wanted to get to know these girls in my class. Mom told me I just needed to talk to people. Go up and ask to sit with them and get to know them. So, one day in Library I asked if I could sit with them and they said no. The one said I wasn't pretty enough.

So, yeah. ..It kinda messed me up for a few years, and I still can't just go up to people like that. Oddly enough in high school they all really liked me and said I was so gorgeous and I got 'best looking'. It's crazy to think they don't remember that moment, but I will never forget it.

[mooki]

What I wonder is why there are only like 3 guys in this forum.

[wargerbil]

I was shy as a little kid. I was even afraid of my father when I was a baby! As an adult I'm pretty outgoing. I'll talk to anyone, anywhere. Maybe it's the social worker thing? I don't know. However, at the same time, I really value being alone and having down and quiet time.

[idontfeelreal]

I am extremely extroverted in situations I am comfortable in...work, when I am with my friends, or when I am around people who share my interests. If I am around people I don't like or in a really awkward setting, it depends. I can go either way. I had a large group of friends in highschool. We weren't considered the "popular" kids or anything. Just did our own thing and had fun, but I was so insecure with myself physically. Since then I have come to be content with my body, mind, everything except for this phobia of course! Most of my friends are guys, I find it harder to relate to girls even though I am one lol. I have my close girlfriends that I have had forever, but rarely find myself making new (close) ones. I have never really been too sure why that is, I think I have just always felt judged and ridiculed by my own gender in the past moreso than the opposite.

But normally I would say I am pretty outgoing. I am sorry you feel so insecure! What are your interests? Maybe you could take a class or join a club that focuses on those interest so you can meet similar people