Sudden shy spells?

Question

I'm a reserved, soft-spoken person and it takes me a while to open up to people. At work, I've opened up to a few co-workers but I try to be friendly to everyone, say hi, wave or ask how they are doing.

I've been trying to overcome the shyness that I've battled since my childhood and have made progress. BUT, sometimes I get these "shy spells" where all of a sudden I'll get this uncomfortable feeling, will get super quiet, will avoid eye contact and if everyone is leaving the room, I'll scurry away quietly without saying goodbye.

A few questions:

1.) Are there any recovering sufferers of shyness who can relate to this sudden and sporadic onset?

2.) Why does this happen? How can you deal with it?

3.) What impression does it give to others who don't know you're shy? Can other people sense that it's shyness or will they think I'm standoffish?

4.) What if people KNOW you're shy and the shy spells happen around them? Will they think I'm being rude/standoffish?

Answer 1

I felt i have been a very shy person most of my life. When talking to friends they tell me they never seen that in me since i was so friendly with everyone. I believe i was "friendly" to hide my true feelings of being scared and of being shy. From what u have written, have u ever heard of panic attacks or anxiety? I have never experienced the sudden onset of feeling shy and having to leave an area. That sort of seems like either panic attacks or anxiety, and it is a weird feeling that comes from within and most ppl will do just exactly what u have said and will leave the area right away. Something for u to look up and see if the other symptoms r what u may be feeling as well. Im not sure what other ppl think when someone is shy, but occasionally i was told that i was a snob because i would keep my head down sometimes. Your close friends obviously would know better but strangers may think something along those lines. I do understand what ur going through, i still feel like im shy but i make myself say hello and talk to strangers which i would never do b4. Good luck!!

Answer 2

I too am shy but like you always try to be friendly. I think you need to keep doing that as when you're quiet people just think you're being standoffish - I get the same. Even when people know you're shy they will still think you're standoffish because they can't relate to how you're feeling. But I think what you're describing are anxiety attacks. I think you need to see a councellor about this to help you. You might have some issues you need to deal with.

Answer 3

I know the way you consider. I'm nonetheless running via my shyness...even though I'm getting larger. I have predicament watching humans within the eye and I have a rather difficult time going up and announcing hello to any person I have no idea. I do not even hassle starting as much as any person. What I determined that is helping is having peers who're extra outgoing than you. They can variety of push you into being extra outgoing and no more shy. And simply attempt to placed your self available in the market regularly. You would possibly consider like an fool, however finally you can grow to be confortable with your self and you can be equipped to position your self into extra public instances. Hope this is helping!!!