Thursday, August 29, 2013

Social Anxiety

Last night was Wine Wednesday for the wives and female Soldiers in Hubster's class. I was invited and reluctantly said yes. It's not that I didn't want to go, I just don't handle strangers and social situations well. I only really know two of the wives from the class, and meeting new people seriously freaks me out.

I spent all of yesterday afternoon silently freaking out. Like butterflies in my stomach, heart in my throat, I hope I don't pee on myself freaking out. I even had to Google social anxiety to check if that's what my problem was. It turns out, that's not exactly my issue. According to Wikipedia (the know all, be all of life), social anxiety has to do with the discomfort and concern of being judged by others. Honestly, I couldn't care less what people think of me. I just prefer to sit in my hermit shell and not speak. I ended up being so nervous, that I left the house without eating dinner. There was plenty of food at Wine Wednesday, so it wasn't a major deal.

When I got to the house where the event was being held, I didn't see the cars of the ladies I know. Panic mode! I slowly walked towards the door and rang the bell. Once I was in, it really wasn't that bad. I felt even better as soon as I had a glass in my hand. I swear think I'm not an alcoholic.
Source
My peeps showed up a short while later, and all was well. I chatted a bunch and made a new friend. Events like this are never as bad as I make them out to be in my head. I'm going to have to start getting used to it any way. I'll never make friends in Hawaii if I don't push myself out of my comfort zone.

Is anyone else nervous about talking to strangers like I am?

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15 comments:

  1. I'm the same when I first meet people and don't know anyone!

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  2. The weird thing with me is I was never like that until I started going to military spouse things. When I am around civilians I don't feel the same anxiety. It's super weird!! Haha. I think I go into it with preconceived notions and freak myself out.

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  3. YES I get so nervous when I have to converse. I can say the dumbest things at times.

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  4. YES! I get anxiety as well and I always try to talk myself out of going somewhere.

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  5. I get the same way. I don't even like dealing with repairmen! Even though at social places, I usually end up warming up to people and everything turns out just fine, I always get freaked out and have to pee like 20 times before I leave the house.

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  6. I am totally like this, more so with military functions than others, but I definitely get clammy hands when meeting new people!

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  7. It is weird. As a child and a teen I always had an issue. As an adult it just depends on my mood.

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  8. This is so me! Just last week I took the kids to register at MOPS and knew I wasn't going to know ANYONE there! I was freaking out! I just feel so much more comfortable when there is at least a familiar face in the crowd. At least there, I can hide behind my children! Hopefully after the first meeting or two, I'll warm up to these folks!

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  9. I'm glad it went well. I like hearing stories like these because I do have social anxiety, but I am getting better. p.s. right now your ad on the side is the children of america about back to school and I swear the little girl in the picture is evil. She is looking at me and its freaking me out.

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  10. I am always so scared to g to socials. It seems like I end up saying the dumbest things or I don't talk much at all.

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  11. I am the same way: I'd rather stay at home and not talk to anyone than go to an event with a bunch of people. I do have a lot of close friends, though. When I'm with them I can be really outgoing and boisterous! But in a new situation, when meeting new people, I find I don't really know what to talk about. So I just sit quietly. I think this weirds some people out.

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  12. Oh, I am the same way! Good job on going. I usually talk myself out of it!

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  13. Oh, yes! I really think everyone is nervous about meeting new people. The important thing is that you are trying and that there are probably several girls feeling the same anxieties!

    Semper Wifey
    www.semperwifey.blogspot.com

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  14. I have major social anxiety. Even when I'm going somewhere with people I know I'm a wreck days before the actual event. Usually, more often than not, once I'm there I'm OK. Well, as OK as I can be. It's not easy, and I don't reach out to make friends easily because of it. The last new friendship I tried to make was with a neighbor, before my husband deployed, and I ended up with major hurt feelings. But anyway, it's definitely not easy.

    I think it's awesome that you went!

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  15. I totally get myself all worked up and nervous before events and then end up having so much fun. Sometimes it's just hard to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people, but it's always so nice after!

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