Comments on: Social Guides for the Socially Awkward Part 2: Dating – First Things First

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 01:10:21 +0000

Thanks so much for commenting! It really helps to know these blogs are good for others. They’re hard to write!

I hope things get better for you. Start really small, and work your way up. If you start out with the objective of just talking to someone new, and maybe making a new friend, it’s a lot easier than starting out with a hope of a future relationship, etc. All that mess just adds pressure!

Take it easy, be kind to yourself, and START SMALL! Thanks so much for reading and commenting! <3

By: Josh Z

Josh Z — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 00:49:21 +0000

this blog series is really great. I have a lot of social anxiety issues that I’ve struggled with throughout my life. Dating is like the number one thing that causes crippling fear for me and that has greatly negatively affected my life. I’ve never had a girlfriend because of fear of rejection and the wierdness of the whole dating thing. Its weird, I know, but now ifts harded and harded a thing to get past, plus the lack of experience in that whole department because of that. I’m trying to get better and seeing blogs like this at least give me hope that I’m not as alone as I think. This really has some great and constructive advice. Thank you and keep up the great work. #ForeverAlone #hopefullynotforever

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 16:04:22 +0000

Fantastic post, Jessica! ^^ Great advice and…So much to relate to! I read the previous too and, appropriately, it’s an effort to even write this for a comment. And it’s across the ‘net board, with all the Tumblr-ing and Twitter-ing I do…Always wondering how things will be read or be taken and worrying if I’ve posted/said something I shouldn’t have…

But as with in-person interaction, I eventually just think; ‘go for it, because you never know…’ (Though to be fair, online has been relatively more successful for me, I think)

So, here goes! ^^ And the end of the day, it’s always comforting to know that we’re not alone. So, as ever, thanks for being a wonderful beacon of inspiration! ^^

(That didn’t sound too corny, did it…? Argh! Done it again! XD)

P.S. I don’t eat asparagus…

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 03:24:04 +0000

In my first post, I talked about Active Listening. It's something that isn't as easy as it sounds, and can take practice. Active listening forces you to stop talking, stop thinking about what you're going to say next, and simply concentrate on the person speaking to you and what they are saying. I would recommend you start there. I think, over time, you'll find you get a lot more out of your interactions with people, and feel less of a need to overcompensate. A lot of times I start to babble when I'm afraid there will be an awkward silence. I don't know why, but I'm TERRIFIED of awkward silence. The cure, in my experience, is to stop talking, ask a question, and actively listen. It really does enhance your interactions, and helps to narrow your focus so that you feel less nervous in an unfamiliar situation. At least, it has that effect on me. Good luck, and thanks for reading! I hope that helps.

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 03:14:51 +0000

my social awkwardness is that I talk too much and don’t think about what I’m saying… Often, I will make a friend but I don’t hang onto them. I am a mix of overconfidence, blundering, and obnoxiousness. What about me?

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 01:18:20 +0000

Thank you so much! That’s exactly why I blog about my issues. I’m so thrilled that it helps you and inspires you to help others. Educating people is key. Those who suffer like we do, and those who need to understand where we’re coming from.

By: John

John — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 01:09:44 +0000

Thanks for these articles. It’s always reassuring to know this isn’t just one of those weird traits unique to me one me. People who are good at social interaction have a hard time understanding why I’m shy or why I can interact at work (good acting and not having to truly interact on a personal level with people). It is good to read that someone who is so awesomely geeky not only understands but lives it. Thanks for being a great role model. It inspires me to get out, and not only help myself but others too.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 00:32:05 +0000

I’m @GeekyJessica!

By: Mariah M.

Mariah M. — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 00:28:30 +0000

Thanks for the link Jessica. What’s your Twitter handle so I can follow you? Mine is @_MariahM_

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 00:07:44 +0000

You are not alone! There are tons of us. Did you see last week’s post? It’s all about events just like your meetups. Good for you for organizing one! Here’s the link. Maybe it’ll help you, and there are some nice comments at the bottom, too.

http://bit.ly/1aSWiN4

Thanks so much for reading! I’m so glad it helped a little.