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Is anyone here hopelessly socially awkward?

  Author:  56297  Category:(Embarrassing) Created:(8/25/2017 2:10:00 PM)
This post has been Viewed (1598 times)

So I'm socialy awkward. Painfully so. The funny thing is that I'm selectively awkward. I'm fine with family, friends, and people close to my age. I'm fine around my students (I'm a University professor). I'm not fine around authority figures, people who are more experienced and older than me in my department, my PhD supervisory committee, and people who are experts in my field. In front of them I still feel like an awkward bumbling teenager. I have a fear of being an imposter and of them being able to see that I'm an impostor. 

For instance, the head of the philosophy department tried to strike up a conversation with my outside my office today. He's a very nice guy and very friendly but I feel terribly awkward in front of him because I know he has been at the University for almost 20 years, he has tenure, he has published multiple books, etc. I'm nowhere near as knowledgeable at him and I have some innate fear that people will find me stupid and ill-suited for the job since I don't have as many publications and I'm not as experienced. This manifests itself physically;

- I'll occasionally stumble on my words or forget what I was just going to say.

- I'm not at all sure how I should position my body. Do I cross my arms? No, that looks unnatural. Do I just let them dangle? No, that's weird too. I wish I had something to hold or play with.

- I smile when they smile, nod too much, and I'm completely inarticulate because I'm a nervous mess.

I realize that they probably don't think much of my awkwardness once the conversation is done, but I have a fear that they will go home and wonder what the heck is wrong with me. I fear that they will tell my other colleauges how awkward and weird I am and that they will all laugh at me. I know these fears aren't very logical and they probably stem from the fact that I was heavily bullied and taunted in Middle/High school. I never really got over those things. I wasn't socially awkward or shy as a child. I didn't have social anxiety. But when I started getting bullied I turned into a neurotic and self-conscious person.

Does anyone else experience this? Do you think it's as obvious to others as it is to me? What are some things that help you combat social anxiety and conversational awkwardness? Is it normal that I don't know as much as my colleauges who have been researching in their fields for decades and that I don't have as many publications? Sigh. 

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Halloween is Right around the corner.. .







 
Replies:      
Date: 8/25/2017 4:25:00 PM  From Authorid: 21435    You just described me, well into my thirties. These days, I speak when spoken to, give advice if anyone asks for it and if I run out of gas during a conversation, well then, it's your turn to run with it. If the conversation ends abruptly, well then it's "catch you later, alligator." I just don;t worry too much about it, anymore. I'm sure you'll be fine.   
Date: 8/25/2017 5:36:00 PM  From Authorid: 42945    That was me until I was sent to do some courses getting ready for a good position in a large Car Company that I worked for...I lacked confidence in myself and he bought up the subject of a promotion and I dug up the courage to tell him my fears....I hear you loud and clear dear and I feel for you...maybe seeking help professionally would be a good idea...You'll learn how to hold yourself in front of people ( where to put your hands etc) looking people in the eye instead of all around you and I wonder now upon looking back over the years how obvious it was to others of my lack of confidence in myself...My manager knew my potential and wanted to help me and I'm sure those that you refer to in your post are intelligent enough to see it too..maybe you can talk to one of them about it and its no shame to admit that you have these fears..it can happen to anyone..I wish you well and hope that you can get some help on this subject..  
Date: 8/25/2017 6:57:00 PM  From Authorid: 22721    I agree with Zema, don't feel like you're inferior. You are a college professor, which says a lot. I means that you are a smart accomplished professional and it will only get better.  
Date: 8/26/2017 3:57:00 PM  From Authorid: 23963    I used to think I was to a bit, but I realized through many years on my spiritual journey that we are all unique, have our own personality, and our own set of characteristics. Just be who you are and the right people will be pulled to you based on similar traits. If you have trouble communicating with some people or it bothers them in some way, then they are not the people you want to be around.

I am a person who just makes small talk with others in conversation, but I am not the type of person to sit there and speak to someone about my life or what I do on my weekends etc. To some this may come off as being socially awkward or shy, but I am neither of those things. I am a very private person and don't talk much about my personal life.

What I am saying to you is, just be yourself. Not everyone is going to like you or your personality. You know yourself better than anyone, and your way of communication is best suited for you. There are many great people out there who will naturally like you as a person and your personality. Try not to worry to much about how other people perceive you.
  
Date: 8/27/2017 7:41:00 AM  From Authorid: 28363    adderal, online catilian or beauty pageant research on posturing and answering questions, pattern match your target in smiles and body language  
Date: 8/29/2017 10:29:00 PM  From Authorid: 60395    I've struggled with several forms of anxiety my whole life. I started taking ashwagandha (it's an herbal supplement you can purchase on amazon) on July 7 and it has changed my life. I have more confidence and I'm far more comfortable around strangers, in crowds, sleep better, and have loads more energy. It has worked better than any medication my doctor has ever given me and also helps my depression. It has been a literal life saver.  
Date: 9/13/2017 9:52:00 AM  From Authorid: 66755    Socially awkward is basically my middle name!  

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