You people
terrify me, but that's okay. I still like you.
I used to
have pretty bad social anxiety. I would go from home to school back to home. I
would only speak when spoken to. And don't get me started about presentations
or reading aloud. It could send shivers down my spine, make my mouth dry, and
my imagination would send me all these ways of dying violent deaths, just so I
wouldn't have to speak in front of people.
It can take
me years to feel comfortable around people. It's not that I don't want to be,
but it's hard. I'm an introvert, so it doesn't help with the anxiety. I was
even diagnosed with social anxiety, clinical depression, and agoraphobia (I disagree with the agoraphobia, though. I don't fear going outside my house. I just prefer being at home than outside.) back
in 2005.
All of this
is interesting considering my first chosen profession. I wanted to be an
actress and/or opera singer. Yeah, I would've had to put myself out there every
day. A part of me thrived on it. I was in many musicals and sang in choirs from
high school through my third year of college. I auditioned a lot. Auditions
were pretty bad, but perhaps the director saw something in me. Once I had the
validation I could do a role, then I was fine. I was someone else.
In some ways
I could be myself.
I've gotten
better as I've grown older. I still feel the panic symptoms when answering the
phone. I worry I won't know an answer at work, but I can just talk to people a
little better, especially one-on-one or in small groups. I do better if asked
questions. I feel like I can be myself.
I think I
could even give a speech, if I had to. That speech class and voice and diction
class I took in college can pay off.
I still fear
reading aloud. Maybe if I had validation, I could do it like with
acting/singing, but without it, fear seizes me and takes me back to the dark
places.
I guess it's
a one step at a time thing, but it gets better.
Do you have
social anxiety? What are you afraid of? How do you overcome fear?
7 comments:
I'm so proud of you for battling your anxiety!
I have anxiety everyday before I go to work, and sometimes at 3:30 in the morning. I have to drink a glass of milk and read before I can go to sleep again.
Anxiety sucks, but it's also what keeps me driven to accomplish. I feel better when I got something done.
Keep putting yourself out there!
It's never easy to put yourself out there so I give you a lot of credit.
Public speaking is not my favourite thing, nor is standing around at cocktail parties where I don't know anyone. A positive attitude helps lots.
You've come a long way. That's awesome. :) I'm proud of you. I'm the same way as you. I've gotten better over the years, too, but it's still very difficult for me to talk in front of people and go to parties. I'm hoping by the time I'm a senior, I'll be like who cares and ramble on about anything in front of strangers! *LOL*
As you've already seen, I've given you an award. ;) Those Angry Birds are going to get the best of me!
I know exactly what you mean; I'm an introvert too, and find it hard to talk to people. I also relate to how it's easier to act - to be someone else. I used to do amateur dramatics, and really enjoyed it (probably for that reason).
I'm not sure about giving a speech, but reading aloud I've never had a problem with. I was always happy to do that during English classes.
Sounds like you've come a long way though, which is a fantastic achievement.
I never knew you were an opera singer! Wow! I would love to hear you sing someday. :)
I'm a pretty outgoing person by nature. I'll talk to anyone, and don't consider myself shy. BUT I have a phobia of public speaking. I don't enjoy it at all. I am much better in small groups.
You should be really proud of yourself for what you've achieved. Well done.
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