💾 Archived View for midnight.pub › replies › 7529 captured on 2024-02-05 at 11:37:34. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
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Well, I probably should let you know that I have social anxiety. And with very good reason.
People often say to me I shouldn't care about what others think of me. And at first, I usually don't. But then others call me selfish for not thinking about them and their own interests because I have Autism, but in all honesty, I think that's bullshit. Who's really being selfish?
Furthermore, when someone creates a horrible rumor of me, like being a sex offender, I get scared, and I would imagine rightfully so. Besides, if I hadn't left campus willingly, I would've had charges pressed against me based on those rumors alone.
So how can I not be concerned about what people think of me, when people have gone out of their way to manipulate others to hurt me by lying about me?
Rather than simply ignoring the danger, I wish to draw my line in the sand, and stand up for myself. But I'm afraid if I do, they'll lie and say I was the one who started it, as my bullies have before.
My social anxiety is a reason why I don't get out often, or interact with other people often.
Although I am an introvert, I like to put on a facade, a persona, that I am an extrovert to try and make a good impression on people. But the truth is I am insecure, and I often do this to hide my self-confidence issues.
It's understandable. After all, different people have different ways of establishing contacts and meeting new people.
I don't know what advice to give to introverts about managing/creating social relationships and nurturing them according to their characteristics. I do not mean to be rude, just highlighting my ignorance so that you take what I say with a grain of salt.
However, If you think that your educational life negatively impacted your social life and your ability to form or join social spheres, I would say that you need to learn it by experience.
Which is to say, not that helpful advice to give since you've been trying that. But looking at the people around me and my friends, whether introverted or extroverted, they also mostly learn it by experience. And most of them succeed in the end, whether it be in the middle of their twenties or early thirties.
Taking care of yourself part still stands though.