Help

Rory Gallagher

How can I overcome my ridiculous shyness?
Whenever I'm in school and am forced to read out I get extremely nervous,I start mumbling and stumbling over my words,My palms sweat like hell and after I read I want the earth to swallow me.

I honestly can't stand being in a group of more than 5 people,If someone asks me something like ''Why are you so quiet'' I fly off the handle as I am sick of being asked.

Can someone with similarities to meself tell me how to be able to handle my shyness better,Especially as I am a musician and I need to be able to approach people.

Oryx

The more you practice dealing with tough situations the easier it will become. When speaking to a group, imagine you are only speaking to one person. Prepare well and be ready for whatever it is you have to talk about. When heading into things you're unsure of, look as if you know where you are going. Keep your head up. Look confident. Where your body language leads, you'll follow!

Just practice. Take a deep breath and just do it. People aren't looking at you half as much as you imagine. It does get easier the more you try.

Rory Gallagher

Thank you!

retro:electro

Rory Gallagher wrote: »

How can I overcome my ridiculous shyness?
Whenever I'm in school and am forced to read out I get extremely nervous,I start mumbling and stumbling over my words,My palms sweat like hell and after I read I want the earth to swallow me.

I honestly can't stand being in a group of more than 5 people,If someone asks me something like ''Why are you so quiet'' I fly off the handle as I am sick of being asked.

Can someone with similarities to meself tell me how to be able to handle my shyness better,Especially as I am a musician and I need to be able to approach people.

I used to be like you in school. I was incredibly shy and used to get angry when people would point it out. Whenever I was in a group and they were all talking I would want to speak up and say something but there would be a voice in my head telling me to shut up nobody cares what you have to say. Honestly if you are anything like I was then you need to get rid of that negative voice in your head. Even if you feel like what you are saying is stupid, just say it, start to speak up little and often and you will find immense improvement.
Regarding reading out loud, I too hated that in school but to be honest you can take it as a given that nobody is even listening to you, they all see it as an opportunity for them to tune out as someone else is doing the work. I used to find reading scary and my voice would shake but then I told myself to get over it, it's only reading, it's not like I'm singing or making a show of myself!

As regards being shy, there is nothing wrong with being a shy person. I happen to prefer shy people over the loud obnoxious ones. You are who you are so you should embrace that. If it is getting in the way of your confidence however then I would encourage you to not let it. Don't see being shy as a problem, work with it! Some of the nicest people I know are shy people.
All the best!

LegacyUser

Hi,

I'm nearly finished school and I completely understand what your saying.

Until very recently I was the very same! Went into floods of sweat whenever I was asked to read and used to read it at a million miles an hour!

Now I have no hesitation in talking in most classes and am perfectly happy to read. It just struck me one day that ultimately people are mostly thinking about themselves and their own ambitions. For example if someone says something stupid in a class no one will even remember it after a while.

Ultimately everyone deserves a voice and if people don't like something you do that's their problem and who are they to judge?

For me it just happened one day and hopefully it will for you too