Post by cheeseball on Jun 8, 2005 17:09:10 GMT -5
I'm probably older than most of the people here. I'll just say that I've already completed by bachelor and master of science degrees and am working on my PhD in genetics. My shyness is different than most. I wasn't born shy. In fact I was born completely devoid of anything remotely shy. However I was always very sensitive to criticism and became shy in late elementary school. It has only become worse as time has gone on. The weirdest thing now is that I have no problems talking in front of large groups of people. I've given lectures at conferences with well over 1000 people in attendance and I regularly teach university classes. My problem is with talking with one or two people at a time. Office hours drive me nuts because it's usually just me with one or two students discussing any difficulty they may be having with their work. I currently have an undergraduate student worker working for me. I'm terrified to correct him whenever he does something wrong. I've gone as far as to re-wash all of the glassware after he did a bad job because I didn't want to confront him. I'm not afraid of him, per-say. I just am afraid of getting the stone-cold b* label, if you know what I mean.
One of my parents was a diplomat so I learned how to talk with people while growing up. I even learned to speak several foreign languages. As a result, very few people think of me as shy because I know how to cover it very well. However I will literally break into crying fits before dinner parties. I have anxiety attacks before attending church. I'm starting to get the shakes right now because I will have to leave in a few minutes to attend a support group for grad students.
I've dated, in the past, and am married. My wedding was perhaps the most terrifying experience of my life. Having to plan the whole wedding/reception and then having all of those guests "appraise the results" was nerve-racking. People criticize everything related to a wedding.
My problems with dating started in high school...I guess everyone here can related. Mostly my problem was that everyone saw me as their little sister. And no one wants to date their sister. The problem continued through college and I was too scared to date until a few years later. I met my husband through an on-line service. We talked on-line for more than a month before I would meet him. And then it had to be in a very public place, where I could drive myself home if I paniced.
I have trouble making new friends any time I move. Mostly it's because I don't want to be labeled some kind of leech and because I never know exactly how to ask groups of people if they'd like to go out for a drink without sounding like a loser.
Anyways, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
One of my parents was a diplomat so I learned how to talk with people while growing up. I even learned to speak several foreign languages. As a result, very few people think of me as shy because I know how to cover it very well. However I will literally break into crying fits before dinner parties. I have anxiety attacks before attending church. I'm starting to get the shakes right now because I will have to leave in a few minutes to attend a support group for grad students.
I've dated, in the past, and am married. My wedding was perhaps the most terrifying experience of my life. Having to plan the whole wedding/reception and then having all of those guests "appraise the results" was nerve-racking. People criticize everything related to a wedding.
My problems with dating started in high school...I guess everyone here can related. Mostly my problem was that everyone saw me as their little sister. And no one wants to date their sister. The problem continued through college and I was too scared to date until a few years later. I met my husband through an on-line service. We talked on-line for more than a month before I would meet him. And then it had to be in a very public place, where I could drive myself home if I paniced.
I have trouble making new friends any time I move. Mostly it's because I don't want to be labeled some kind of leech and because I never know exactly how to ask groups of people if they'd like to go out for a drink without sounding like a loser.
Anyways, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.