How do you keep calm in social situations?

Post Reply New Topic

Whenever someone I'm not familiar with talks to me, it feels like it came out of nowhere and it catches me by surprise. A simple question becomes an enigma to me as my mind freezes and refuses to function. My thoughts seem blank and I feel stuck. I'm kind of like a deer in the headlights when this happens. It's annoying because it takes me so long to answer, and all the while I'm standing there like a dumb ass going "uuuuuuuuhhhh..."

I'm wondering, does anyone here have certain things they do to cope with this sort of problem and to help them relax? I need to relax, that's my biggest problem...

I lock up too and can't respond or say anything and really have no way to break out of it-if someone I know is there and talks a little first and I get at ease and feel better sometimes but thats if someone else is there

ecstasy might work...or I suppose a more common one is alcohol, both of those tend to make socializing easier.

Okay, but I can't go to school drunk. xD

Try to find common ground with the person. Try to talk about a subject that you're both interested and enthusiastic about or compliment the person on something they did or are wearing and all of a sudden you just might be into a full blown conversation.

(Couldn't help but chuckle. Thanks guys.)

To the OP: I still have a problem with not being stuck in "boy scout robot" mode when someone unexpectedly talks to me while I'm moving, even someone I know.

• Someone: "How're ya?"
• Me: "Fine, I'm just going back to my desk."
• Me (minutes later): "what the... damn that sounded dumb..."

I seem to be distracted when I'm walking somewhere, driving, or otherwise moving from one place to another under my own power. I seem able to have perfectly normal conversations if I'm in my seat doing whatever I'm doing, but someone saying "how are you?" or "any news?" while I'm walking through a hallway jams up my brain.

Next time this happens, I'll have to try simulating someone who has nowhere better to be, and no particular schedule. To simulate being involved in a conversation like that, where I'm not off my ease due to transiting somewhere.

Well I never said those where good ideas.

Superiority complex.