I avoid social situations because I worry about how presentable I look, and most of all because I worry about saying something stupid or speaking out at the wrong time. Last time I was socializing I was in a pub with my partner and his friend, I asked his friend something relavent to the conversation we were having, but at the second I spoke he got distracted by someone who kind of appeared out of nowhere, and I awkwardly continued my question but drifted away then looked at my partner, who made a facial expression which said "ask him in a minute". I can read body language well, but sometimes when I speak it's bad timing, because of my unconfident shy voice, so they UNintentionally ignore me, no matter how nice they are.
If I didn't lack confidence or have social anxiety, I think my social performances would almost be like the average NT, except for a few minor oddities.
When engaging in conversation, sometimes I say awkward things like for example:-
NT: Me and my friends are going on a week-end camping holiday in Margate next Saturday
Me: Sounds nice, what's that?
NT: Um, it's a camping holiday...in Margate...for a week-end
Me: Right. Sounds nice
*I try to think of more questions to ask to sound interested, but they've basically told me everything, so the conversation ends awkwardly.*
These are the reasons why I avoid social situations. I feel just like the guys from "The Inbetweeners" when they are chatting up girls (except this happens to me in general social situations). I am literally afraid of any social errors, and the embarrassed/awkward feelings I get are rather strong, and I worry about it for weeks.
It's easy to say that people forget any minor social errors, and maybe they do, but if so many people think weird of us then surely they must be remembering some of the awkward things we do.
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Female
17 Dec 2016, 8:53 am
