Acting?!?

[sally]

At the end of last semester my drama teacher asked me if I was going to be in theater next year.
I replied "I can't, I already do enough acting in my own life." After that she just dropped the matter and started singing.

Does anybody else feel like that? Some people think I am out going, or even stuck up, because I act normal and talk a lot and participate in class but I still can't look them in the eye for very long or speak directly to them. whenever I do I go as red as a tomato and my eyes start to water.

It is really messed up, and the only way I know how to make it stop is by acting more. After a while it can really take a lot out of you.

If you have any idea of what I am talking about, please post.

[Yeti]

yea i know what you mean, i put on an act all too well. very few people know me for how i really am, how i really feel and think.

[Paulinus]

Yep even when I had friends at school I put on a bit of an act to hide my true self

[wshonastr]

i know what u mean. Sometimes i can force myself to act all outgoing and talkative, for example at parties or for my job, and i think it can be fairly convincing, but in th end its just an act. it takes a lot of effort and leaves me feeling drained, and i end up just wanting to retreat even deeper into my shell afterwards.

[streetworm]

I can generally do a pretty good job of putting on the act when I'm with a group of people that I know.

Still not very good at it in one on one situations.

I don't really know about that drained feeling some others have mentioned. I've never really had that...thankfully.

[Samantha]

I often feel or have felt that I have put on an act but now I feel it's just me. I may not be behaving the way I would choose but it's still my behaviour. If that makes sense. That might sound pedantic but it's helped me in a strange way. It's kind of been like an ok to put on an 'act'. We are all different in different situations. We all hide or mask things. Some better than others. Some more than others.

I could talk alot and participate in class too. It's different to talking outside of class. I think it's a good thing you can 'act'. While you might not be comfortable you can overcome your shyness to some extent. Like you said, it's the only way for you to overcome it. It's a coping strategy. While it's not ideal it's better than having none.

You shouldn't pressure yourself to always feel like you have to be yourself with everyone. Hopefully you will find some good friends you trust enough of feel comfortable enough with to be yourself.

I've had that opinion that I'm stuck up or stand offish before. In the end it's their mistake, their error in judgement. As I don't care that much about them, I don't care what they think. Although if I had a choice, obviously I would prefer them to like me lol. Those people I care or have cared about are the people that would understand the 'real' me. Although never completely but maybe that's just life. Those are the people I care about being the 'real' me with.

Ok I'm waffling sorry. I've kind of lost the thread of what I was saying lol. Maybe it's good you come across as outgoing though. Some people take advantage of insecurities or 'weaknesses'. All I'm trying to say I guess is that it's not all bad. Be patient. Hopefully you will find people who will understand you. Hopefully.