I want to share something that’s been bothering me for quite some time. It’s about my anxiety and nervousness when I am around people whom I do not know. This has been a struggle for me, and it makes my body uncomfortable. Whenever I’m around unfamiliar faces, I feel confused and afraid. You might think that it’s normal to feel a little uneasy when you’re in new surroundings, but for me, it’s a different story. I can’t seem to shake off the fear that’s been paralyzing me. I feel as if I don’t have anything to contribute to a conversation, and I don’t want to say a word or give my idea about something. I don’t even want to share my thoughts because I’m lost and confused. It’s frustrating how I end up losing words that much when I’m with new people or those I do not know. I always feel like I’m lost, and I don’t know where to start. It’s difficult to initiate a conversation because I don’t know how to keep it going. My mind goes blank, and I feel like nobody wants to talk to me. Social anxiety is a serious mental health condition, and it can be incredibly isolating. Sometimes I would love to share my thoughts and opinions on matters of interest or join the conversations, but I can’t, and I end up not saying anything at all. In fact, the more I try to force myself to speak up, the more intense my anxiety becomes, and I shut down even further. The fear of saying something wrong and being judged can be overwhelming. It’s not that I don’t want to connect with others. I’m a very friendly and outgoing person with people that I know, but when it comes to someone new, all my sociable tendencies go out of the window. I’m left feeling isolated and very alone, trapped inside my own headspace. It’s made me feel like I’m not normal – like everyone else can handle social situations, but I can’t. I’ve missed out on so many opportunities to make friends or connections because of my anxiety, and it’s made me feel lonely and depressed at times.
However, the good thing is there is hope. I’ve found that opening up to trusted friends and family members has helped me feel less alone and more supported through this journey. I’m now working hard on ways to manage and overcome my social anxiety. I’m also slowly exposing myself to new social experiences, allowing myself to feel progressively more comfortable in social settings. I want anyone else who’s struggling with social anxiety to know that you’re not alone, and that it’s okay to ask for help. Don’t let your anxiety hold you back from living the life you want. Reach out to a professional or someone you trust there are people out there who understand and can help you navigate this difficult experience. I hope that sharing my experience has helped someone out there feel less alone. We’re all in this together.The process of managing social anxiety is a challenging one, but with the right support and guidance, it is possible to overcome it.
Unruly Bodies 
I get the same way. I used to hate talking in front of a class, being surrounded by strangers and forced to interact. I get paranoid that they’re judging me. For my looks, for what I wear, for how I speak. I assume they think the worst of me. Parties are a nightmare. I’ve been to exactly one frat party and I will never go to one of those again. Sitting in a corner, hoping no one talks to you, feeling like everyone is staring at you and does not want you there. I have talked to my therapist about this which definitely has helped. Being constantly surrounded by strangers whether I like it or not has as well. There are definitely limitations on what I want to do, but I have definitely gotten to a place that I feel much more comfortable around others.
I love how this blog platform makes me feel less small because I 1000% know where you’re coming from. My social anxiety is more or less opposite from how you experience it in the sense that I am anxious around people I know more than half the time. I simply don’t seem to care that much about how I come off to strangers because I will never see them again. That is now though. Last semester I was so desperate for friends that I kept putting myself in anxiety inducing social settings. I would blank when having conversations and freak out if they thought I was weird.
I am the same exact way! I always worry about being in a space with people I don’t know or don’t have a strong connection with because I fear not being able to make or carry a conversation. It prevents me from going into many social situations and takes a toll on my body and my mental health. It almost feels disabling to have anxiety in a society set up for extroverted, individualistic people to succeed while my anxiety causes me to feel paralyzed and completely alone.
I can relate so much to your blog post. I also struggle with anxiety so talking or hanging out with new people is very difficult more me. I always get cautious of a little word I say because I have that fear of being misunderstood or disliked. It even stops me from making new friends most of the time. But now I’ve been in therapy for about a year and it has helped me a lot. While I do struggle with socializing and other things. It has helped me in improving my social anxiety and hopefully one day I’ll be able to make new friends.
I feel a similar way. My social anxiety often prevents me from doing many things on my own, even if it’s important personal matters or just trying out a new place to eat for lunch. I get petrified of doing things wrong all the time, which often makes me clam up and think about all the things I did wrong long after they are often. Luckily, I have tried (somewhat successfully) to adopt a mindset that most people don’t really care or notice the one embarrassing thing you did, which has helped less my anxiety to a certain degree.