I work at the help desk for my company's IT dept, and I generally spend a lot of my time on the phone with users. Being an introverted person, this can be exhausting, so when I'm not on the phone I prefer to not have to talk to anyone. The problem is that where I work, people from other parts of IT are always coming in to the help desk office looking for conversation/socialization and this is stressing me out. In past jobs I've always handled my social awkwardness by just being a very hard worker and gaining respect that way....this is the first job I've ever had where there seems to be a definite social component to getting by. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 30, 2009 - 10 answers

Should I mention my mental illness on my graduate school statement of intent? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 16, 2009 - 24 answers

I'm heading back to the work world after studying abroad, and want to overcome my long-standing social isolation. Where should I move to? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 5, 2009 - 13 answers

I'd like to be less sensitive to rejection, as well as situations that aren't actually rejection but that I take as such. I've had social anxiety for as long as I can remember (I'm nineteen), and I have only come out of my shell in the last few months. Because of this, I'm incredibly sensitive to what others may think of me, since I've never really had friends and don't want people to dislike me. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 26, 2009 - 23 answers

I asked This question a couple of months ago. Since then I've gone through one of the worst periods of depression of my life. I'm seeing a therapist and taking anti-depressants but they're not really helping. I'm depressed about my complete lack of meaningful relationships and experiences and the depression has made me more isolated and unmotivated than ever. I feel like I need to do something drastic to force myself to get out of my head and start living my life. I want to be in a situation where I have no choice but to work hard and interact with people. Volunteering abroad appeals to me a great deal but I have no real skills and I'm guessing my mental health problems would make it hard to get a placement. Would volunteering abroad be possible or advisable and is there anything else I could do?
posted by anonymous on Sep 20, 2009 - 33 answers

It's my first week in a college dorm. I feel alienated and out of place. Please help me adjust -- advice or encouraging stories appreciated. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 25, 2009 - 34 answers

I use to self-medicate with marijuana for my social-anxiety and low-level depression...can that fact be used to direct me towards a specific antidepressant? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 3, 2009 - 13 answers

I spent my teens and early twenties struggling with undiagnosed social anxiety and depression which I dealt with by shutting myself off from the world and avoiding anything anxiety provoking (school work, social life, jobs, dating). I basically spent 7 years doing nothing but watching TV and reading stuff on the internet. I'm getting treatment for depression and my social anxiety has improved alot but I still spend most of my time doing nothing. I managed to get into a decent university (at the age of 21) but I just barely passed the first year and I almost had to drop out due to depression. I have no close relationships outside of my family and I've never had a girlfriend. How can I get my life back on track after missing so much?
posted by anonymous on Aug 3, 2009 - 14 answers

Can anyone help a person who has had moderate to severe mental health problems find employment? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 6, 2009 - 9 answers

What steps did you take to find your partner in spite of social anxiety or severe shyness? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 2, 2009 - 33 answers

Help me deal with high stakes situations without turning people off and giving myself headaches. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 11, 2009 - 8 answers

Currently, I have few friends. I've always had problems making friends. I've had even bigger problems keeping them. I don't know where to start, or how to remedy. ....... [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 23, 2008 - 14 answers

This one is for the extroverts. As someone who has struggled with social anxiety/shyness to varying degrees my entire life, I'm very curious to know what your inner dialogue is like? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 19, 2008 - 32 answers

Social anxiety and depersonalization...How do you get out of your head? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 10, 2008 - 8 answers

How do I survive a presentation-laden semester w/ social-anxiety? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 14, 2008 - 15 answers

Pretty soon I’ll be going out of town to visit a good friend, and said friend has just invited me to the Xmas party with the folks she works with since it’ll be held while I’m out there. Problem is, they’re very cool and I’m very NOT. We’ve met before and I’m pretty sure most of them think of me as my friend’s dweeby, awkward, strange pal. This only compounds my anxiety and will likely make me act even MORE dweeby, awkward, & strange this time around. Please help me with damage control! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 28, 2007 - 21 answers

How do I tell someone that's actively recruiting me I have social anxiety and other problems that may make it hard for me to do my job? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 19, 2007 - 44 answers

How can I get over my social anxiety when at SO's work gatherings. OR how do I fake proper behavior? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 7, 2007 - 26 answers

Last fall, I met for the first time a Rwandan woman who was in the U.S. for work, and I made a really unfortunate culturally/racially/ethnically charged remark. I've been kicking myself ever since, but I never had a chance to do anything to remedy the situation because I haven't seen her again since. Now, more than six months later, I will be seeing her again. How should I handle this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 19, 2007 - 36 answers

Is there a way to tell clients I want them to communicate with me through email instead of the phone that doesn't make me sound weird? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 31, 2007 - 39 answers

Late-bloomer-filter: I was a painfully shy, geeky, withdrawn guy with almost no friends and no social life. Over the past few years (I'm 28 now), I went to therapy, got a new job, moved from my sleepy suburban town to New York, got tons of people-practice, made new friends... and then this year, it all suddenly and magically clicked. It's unreal, but instead of nights alone with my laptop, I'm out almost constantly with tons of friends, hanging out, going on dates, drinking, dancing, and generally having more fun than I ever believed was possible for me. But I need your advice before I create a monster. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 2, 2006 - 22 answers

How can I become more socially adept/assertive? I'm now losing money because of my social anxiety. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 27, 2006 - 21 answers

I'd like to be nicer to people. I'm generally anxious, socially awkward, and don't enunciate very well. I have trouble with spontaneous conversation and small talk, and get flustered by clumsy social encounters. As a result I've developed a reputation as aloof and unapproachable. What can I do to be a more pleasant person?
posted by anonymous on Dec 19, 2004 - 48 answers