Great thread topic, I thought I would share some of my stories.
I have previously mentioned that in April, I went to Cuba with a couple who were friends of mine at the time. However, when we got there I became quite shy and introverted and started having anxiety attacks, and had to leave the island early, ending my friendships in the process. The funny thing was that once I realized I had no social life, I started to take responsibility for my situation and looked for ways to improve my social life.
The solution turned out to be the outdoor club. My first outing was a bust because I came completely unprepared for the activity, but I managed to regroup and started doing different activities and in the process started making more strides in my social confidence. Because of it, I was able to achieve the following:
- developed the ability to introduce myself and strike up a conversation with a total stranger
- went to a party where I only knew one person (and even then not so well). Not only did I fit in, I was for all intents and purposes the 'life of the party'
- went on a three day weekend with people I barely knew
- Last week, I asked a girl out to see a play
Right now, I am at a point where it is nothing to me to meet new people, at least in a social setting I am comfortable in. I still have problems in bars, but that has to do more with the loud music being such a huge distraction, than me being shy.