Is anyone else socially awkward?

Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by Lea`Brooks, Apr 13, 2015.

  1. GoldenFeather

    GoldenFeather Active Member

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    Lol I'm the same ^^

    I think it has to do with many artists. We find more comfort and ease in expressing ourselves through our art than in the traditional sense. I'm very good at being social, but even so I have moment when I'm very socially awkward and just want to hide away in a corner.

    I think it's normal. After all, being artistic is still being social, it's just a different kind of social. Instead of talking to someone in person, you are simply expressing yourself outwards via art :D
     
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  2. Eunoia

    Eunoia Contributor Contributor

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    Not professionally diagnosed but pretty sure I have social anxiety. So I can relate to some of what people have said here. For me, a lot of it has to do with low self esteem. And until that's sorted (don't even know how), I have no hope in being okay in social situations and having the ability to make friends.

    I do not function at all in groups. I am sometimes vaguely okay in one-on-one situations if I've known the person for a while but I can still have overwhelming anxiety. No idea how I manage to cope being in a job that involves working with the general public but there we go.

    Plus, I'm an introvert which adds to the whole social awkwardness.
     
  3. JessAlways

    JessAlways Member

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    I love talking to people, and making new friends. But I am too warm and friendly, I normally push them away.
    Right after I hung out with my friends, I want more. I try to start planning for more days. That's usually where people are like "well, we just hung out. We should wait a bit." That's normally when I feel as if I just lost them.
    I don't always like talking on the phone to people. Close friends, then oh yes! Making appointments, or something, no...
     
  4. uncephalized

    uncephalized Active Member

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    I'm definitely an introvert and sometimes have some anxiety about social situations. But I find that if I stop thinking about myself so much and just ask questions and talk to others about things that interest them, I get along fine. And it's great because I'm naturally interested in learning about nearly anything, so the extroverts get to talk about themselves and the people they know, which is mostly what they want to do, and I get to gather imagination and story material and learn more about people, which is what I like.
     
  5. trimarine

    trimarine Member

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    I get more socially awkward and uncomfortable the more people there are.

    One is fine.
    Two is tolerable.
    Three is stretching it.
    Four is "Get me the fuck out!"
     
  6. Lae

    Lae Contributor Contributor

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    Eh? quite a few socially awkward folk here. It's the internet so I'm not overly surprised but i generally thought work + life sort of 'grows' you out of it.

    I've always done well in groups, i like getting people involved in conversation. I was taught by a leading tutor in social & group dynamics in my previous employment, so i like screwing with conversations and watching what happens. My final year presentation at uni was in front of 200 people + tutors and i put a semi-naked nurse up on the projector, that was fun
    :supergrin:

    People are what make things fun, use em!
     
  7. Victoria Griffin

    Victoria Griffin Member

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    I have the same problem with communication. Life would be so much easier if we could always communicate through writing! Sometimes it just feels like I can't get the words out fast enough. My brain and my mouth are not on the same page. Other times, I try to edit my sentences as I speak them.

    In the end, I get a lot of confused stares. More often, I get cut off before I can finish the thought.
     
  8. Victoria Griffin

    Victoria Griffin Member

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    I have the same problem with communication. Life would be so much easier if we could always communicate through writing! Sometimes it just feels like I can't get the words out fast enough. My brain and my mouth are not on the same page. Other times, I try to edit my sentences as I speak them.

    In the end, I get a lot of confused stares. More often, I get cut off before I can finish the thought.
     
  9. Ben414

    Ben414 Contributor Contributor

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    One positive of real-life communication is that you can't accidentally say the same thing twice. ;)
     
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  10. Masked Mole

    Masked Mole Senior Member

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    Ohhhhhhhhh! Snap! Bring the hammer down! (Obligatory foghorn noises)
     
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  11. Vellidragon

    Vellidragon Member

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    Yay, social awkwardness! I have a phobia of making mistakes in front of others, and that includes saying the wrong thing or not emoting in the right way. I have my parents to thank for that since I was taught rather thoroughly when I was younger that I'm an embarrassment to everyone if I do something wrong in public or don't behave as expected. I'm very slowly getting over it, but I still try to avoid having to speak or do anything in any situation where people can see/hear me and judge me. It doesn't help that I'm also ugly and feel bad if people have to see me. I have an easier time on the internet because I can edit things and the words don't come out "live", so I have ample opportunities to correct and prevent mistakes (not to mention my appearance doesn't make people uncomfortable). I often spend a long time on things like forum posts, going over them repeatedly and editing things.
     
  12. Victoria Griffin

    Victoria Griffin Member

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    You've got me there. Maybe I'll try talking to the real people, see if I can do better.
     
  13. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    I am introverted and like small amounts of people around. Strange people are hard to be around until I get to know them. I don't talk much, but and courteous with people when I am out and about. I have somewhat of a love/hate with people that is complicated due to many negative aspects that will not be gone into, but for arguments sake have left me socially stunted. People can be a blessing or a nightmare depending on how long it has been since my last interaction. Longest time spent people free was a month straight. Longest time with minimal time spent with other people 1.5 years. Probably would explain why I talk to myself a lot. :p
     
  14. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    I am introverted and like small amounts of people around. Strange people are hard to be around until I get to know them. I don't talk much, but and courteous with people when I am out and about. I have somewhat of a love/hate with people that is complicated due to many negative aspects that will not be gone into, but for arguments sake have left me socially stunted. People can be a blessing or a nightmare depending on how long it has been since my last interaction. Longest time spent people free was a month straight. Longest time with minimal time spent with other people 1.5 years. Probably would explain why I talk to myself a lot. :p
     
  15. Sack-a-Doo!

    Sack-a-Doo! Contributor Contributor

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    My understanding is that it's pretty common among writers to be this way. And, no, you don't suck.

    I can't give you advice on this because I'm the same way. I always have the impression that people simply put up with me because they have to (which is why I'm glad to be retired and don't have to go out much) unless I'm entertaining them. As a result—and because I've always longed to be accepted—I worked as a musician and actor for many years. The friendships may not be real, but they feel real for a while and that helps some.

    It's the main reason I came to this forum (not why I stayed, though) to have people to hang out with... sort of.
     
  16. yeybez

    yeybez Member

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    I have very severe social anxiety to the point that if I felt I said something wrong in a social interaction I'll get so nervous I litteraly throw up and I spend most of my school lunchtimes writing in my notebook in a bathroom stall to avoid passing people in cooridoors.
     

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