Getting over my EXTREME shyness

[Elizabeth Ballard]

So, I'm at VidCon, which is really awesome! But the only two people I've held a conversation with for more than 1 minute came up to me and started chatting. Actually every interaction I've had has been implemented by someone else. I went down to the dance party tonight and found out how bad it really was. I ended up sitting in the very back trying so hard not to just cry because I'm so deathly afraid of it all. I don't know why it is, and I know it's completely irrational, but I can't get over my fear of being social. Help? =/

[Emma]

I've always been shy too, so I understand what you're going through. I've been able to improve through the endless support of my family and friends - espeically by boyfriend. He told me once to 'fake it 'til you make it', meaning that I should fake being confident and eventually I will be. It has helped too. I think of him telling me that every time I feel exceptionally shy and nervous. Over time, I've been able to push some of my fears aside, stand up straight and hold my head up like I've got all the confidence in the world.

Another technique you could try while you're at Vidcon, is to pretend you're someone else for a while - the person you actually want to be. My dad told me he used to do this whenever he was sent away on business trips or on holidays. At home, he would be shy, wouldn't speak up at all and just generally be quiet but when he went away, he would use the opportunity to reinvent himself. After all, he was surrounded by people he didn't know, who wouldn't see him again, so it didn't matter what they thought and he could act like the person he wanted to be deep down inside. This gave him the confidence to eventually start acting like that at home. You would never know he had been shy when he was younger if you met him now.

I hope this helps you in some way and I sincerely hope you're able to overcome your shyness in time.