Trying to get courage to take first steps

[rogue21]

Hi I'm new. I suffer from social anxiety and feel I cannot connect with people as easily as others. It's really hard for me to make friends and I only have a few friends. I never date and worry I'll never get relationship experience. I just feel awkward and cannot open up to people. I have only one family member and I feel suffocated by my loneliness. I want to force myself to be more social and join school clubs to meet people but I just can't make myself. I don't want to look back on my life with regrets but I can't make myself take the first steps.

[doglover123]

Hi! I used to be in the same situation as you, the wall that I had built was so strong it took many years for me to find someone who was willing to try and knock it down. There's no point coddling yourself with the maybes and the what ifs. There is no regrets in talking to people and letting go a little. It won't hurt to tell them that you once burped in the middle of a prayer. It won't hurt to find someone who laughs at you stumbling over your words and stammering to find the right word, but then says how cute you are.

One step at a time just talk to someone! If you trip over nothing(everyone does it) as hard as it is and embarrassing as it seems at the time (which its not) LAUGH IT OFF, if you stammer over a word when your talking to someone new, laugh it off,

The key is to laugh it off

I'd love to talk to you a bit more if you'd like to!

I wish you well

[jay55]

Hi. I also suffer from social anxiety and have for years. I was able to find a wonderful wife so don't give up. I still struggle making friends and in social situations. Some things that I have tried to do that have helped are: meditation, deep breathing before social situations. A couple of books by Dale Carnegie: How to Win Friends and Influence People and I How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. Not going to lie, it is a constant struggle and I have to work at it every day.