Dealing With Introversion/Shyness

When I walk into a room full of people I automatically think that all eyes have shifted to me and I wonder what is everyone thinking about me. When I have to talk in class whether I'm giving a presentation or just sitting at my desk my heart starts racing to the point where I can no longer control it, my palms start sweating, my voice starts trembling, and my eyes start to water. At that point I know everyone is watching me if they weren't already and I'm feeling kind of embarrassed. That's not all. When I'm in social situations, it's hard for me to interact with unfamiliar people and join in on conversations. I really do want to join in on some conversations, but I just can't seem to make the words come out of my mouth. I tell myself to just say what I want to say, but something within me just will not let me. If I didn't want to interact socially then this wouldn't be a problem, but I do. Sometimes I just wonder why can't I do this like everyone else.

I don't want this to hold me back so I decided to see a counselor. I never would've thought that I would need to see a counselor. I just always thought counseling was for people who had serious problems in their lives. I don't know where that impression came from. Probably TV. I have been to three counseling sessions so far. At each session, I find out a little more about myself. It's amazing how well we think we know ourselves until someone else reveals a little bit more. I realized that I don't have it all together like I thought. I graduate in May and will be searching for jobs and internship opportunities. If I can't network or get through the interview process, how can I expect to have a career. I do plan on having a successful career, and I don't want anything to hinder that. Counseling is helping me overcome this barrier in my journey.

Here are some of the tips I have been given

1. Realize that everyone is not looking at you. In all actually, people are really looking and thinking about     themselves and what they have to do.
2. When in unfamiliar situations, take something with you that you are familiar with. It can be a ring or something as simple as a pen. It can be whatever you like.
3. Picture yourself in a calm, relaxed setting and visualize yourself as you would like to be.
4. Know your strengths. Use your strengths to build up your confidence. I know that I may not be the most social in the room, but I do know that I am intelligent, dependable, a great listener, etc.
5. Practice social skills.  The more you do it the better you become. If you don't know what to say, practice ahead of time. I never know what to say so practicing will definitely help. 
6.  Don't compare yourself to someone not like you. Sometimes I want to be that person who is a natural born socializer, but that's not who I am. Let that vision go. Create visions from the person you really are and let that flow naturally. 

 I know that I will not become this social butterfly because that's just not who I am. I will be able to interact and communicate better in social situations.

Feel free to leave comments below on how you deal with shyness or introversion.