Social Anxiety Support

carambola · 08-23-2009, 07:02 AM

A French language meet-up group I joined with the hope of forcing myself to practice both speaking in French and speaking to people at all is having a picnic at a park today. I RSVP'd "maybe" a few days ago and I'm probably not going to fully commit until the last minute, partly because I'm not sure I'll have time to prepare (I don't know what to bring!), but I do think I should go if I can manage it. I said I was shy in my introduction on the website, and I figure if people notice how quiet I am, they'll attribute it partially just to not being very comfortable speaking French.

So my goal is to go and at least talk a little bit to a few people, and if I don't make it today, I should definitely go to next weekend's meet-up.

Canadian Brotha · 08-23-2009, 08:50 AM

This is great, I want to learn French & I know they have meet up groups for all levels to practice/learn but I've not been to one, props if you try it out & let us know how it goes

carambola · 08-23-2009, 03:39 PM

Okay, so I went. I spoke a little bit, though less than anyone else, and mostly English, with French here and there mostly when people asked me questions in French. I had some trouble wording things (in English) because of nervousness but it probably wasn't too bad. I'm trying not to think much about what they might have thought of me and just reminding myself that their impressions aren't important because I'll probably only ever see any of them again if I choose to attend another meet-up . . . which I think I could handle.

carambola · 08-23-2009, 03:56 PM

I was reminded of how much I hate trying to talk to people who have sunglasses on. It feels strange to not be able to see people's eyes in the location where they should be, and I remain constantly overly concerned about where I am looking and how long.

deeds14 · 08-23-2009, 06:29 PM

Where do you find a French meetup group? I want to find one!

carambola · 08-23-2009, 06:41 PM

You can see if there's one near you here: http://french.meetup.com/

carambola · 08-23-2009, 07:48 PM

And now I have a nagging anxious feeling that I did poorly and I'm feeling pretty certain that I just suck in general.

Madison_Rose · 08-23-2009, 08:10 PM

You did great: you went along, and you talked. Now think about somthing else

Johnny_Genome · 08-26-2009, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carambola

I was reminded of how much I hate trying to talk to people who have sunglasses on. It feels strange to not be able to see people's eyes in the location where they should be, and I remain constantly overly concerned about where I am looking and how long.

Talking to people with sunglasses is frustrating—I can't 'read' them, and I'm always paranoid they are rolling their eyes or bored with the conversation.

How many people show up to these groups? I think it's great you were able attend—sounds like you did fine. Small groups of strangers is probably the toughest for me.

pubmix · 08-28-2009, 04:58 PM

I congratulate you on even making it. I signed up for meet-up group then eventually just deleted them from my mailing list.

Don't beat yourself up. All you could do was be as nice and polite as possible. If that wasn't enough for them, forget it.

08-23-2009, 07:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
carambola Status: SAS Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: California Age: 24 Posts: 735	Attend French language meet-up A French language meet-up group I joined with the hope of forcing myself to practice both speaking in French and speaking to people at all is having a picnic at a park today. I RSVP'd "maybe" a few days ago and I'm probably not going to fully commit until the last minute, partly because I'm not sure I'll have time to prepare (I don't know what to bring!), but I do think I should go if I can manage it. I said I was shy in my introduction on the website, and I figure if people notice how quiet I am, they'll attribute it partially just to not being very comfortable speaking French. So my goal is to go and at least talk a little bit to a few people, and if I don't make it today, I should definitely go to next weekend's meet-up.

08-23-2009, 08:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Canadian Brotha Status: A Lonely Soul Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 1,791	This is great, I want to learn French & I know they have meet up groups for all levels to practice/learn but I've not been to one, props if you try it out & let us know how it goes __________________ Listen To My Demo Album, "Soul Of A Man" Listen To Live Folkstyle Sculpting Facebook=Become A Fan Blogspot=My Poetry I See What I Want To See, And Read Into It What I Want To Read Depressions Blinding Me, It’s Clouding My Vision Of Positivity Stand Up Live Your Life, As People Do In Society Maturity Is Calling, It’s Time To Find Your Personality Everybody Knows Everything, When It Comes To People Outside Themselves ^^^An Excerpt Of Song Lyrics Of Mine^^^

08-23-2009, 08:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Madison_Rose Status: conservative gay hamster Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: United Kingdom Gender: Female Age: 27 Posts: 1,307	You did great: you went along, and you talked. Now think about somthing else __________________ Freethinker? Skeptic? Agnostic? Atheist? Not sure? www.the-brights.net

08-23-2009, 03:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
carambola Status: SAS Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: California Age: 24 Posts: 735	Okay, so I went. I spoke a little bit, though less than anyone else, and mostly English, with French here and there mostly when people asked me questions in French. I had some trouble wording things (in English) because of nervousness but it probably wasn't too bad. I'm trying not to think much about what they might have thought of me and just reminding myself that their impressions aren't important because I'll probably only ever see any of them again if I choose to attend another meet-up . . . which I think I could handle.

08-23-2009, 03:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
carambola Status: SAS Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: California Age: 24 Posts: 735	I was reminded of how much I hate trying to talk to people who have sunglasses on. It feels strange to not be able to see people's eyes in the location where they should be, and I remain constantly overly concerned about where I am looking and how long.

08-23-2009, 06:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
deeds14 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 256	Where do you find a French meetup group? I want to find one!

08-23-2009, 06:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
carambola Status: SAS Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: California Age: 24 Posts: 735	You can see if there's one near you here: http://french.meetup.com/

08-23-2009, 07:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
carambola Status: SAS Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: California Age: 24 Posts: 735	And now I have a nagging anxious feeling that I did poorly and I'm feeling pretty certain that I just suck in general.

08-28-2009, 04:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
pubmix Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9	I congratulate you on even making it. I signed up for meet-up group then eventually just deleted them from my mailing list. Don't beat yourself up. All you could do was be as nice and polite as possible. If that wasn't enough for them, forget it.