Q&A for How to Stop Being Boy Shy

Try to avoid negative thoughts like this. You can’t ever know what someone is thinking. It’s a choice to trust that things people say and the way they behave reflect their true feelings.

You'll never know unless you try. Talk to the guy you like, and be honest about your feelings. If he doesn't like you back, that's okay. In the long run, it's better to know than to worry about it.

This is just one of many responses you can have to a situation you find stressful. Other people feel nauseous, blush, or start sweating. The best way to overcome this biological response is to keep putting yourself in contact with the person who makes you laugh. Eventually, you’ll stop feeling so intensely, and likely, you’ll stop laughing too.

If you have good conversations online, build on those when you see him in person. Say something like, “I thought you might like this movie I just saw because it’s a lot like the one we talked about last night.” You can also try setting up a specific time to talk about something in real life. During your online chat say, “That’s really interesting, but I don’t know if I can say everything I need to on chat. Can we talk about it tomorrow afternoon?”

Your emotional responses are always valid. If a guy points out your shyness in a way that makes you feel bad about it, he may not be the nicest person. However, the guy may be trying to make you feel better by joking with you. If this is the case, try to laugh off your embarrassment, keep talking to him.

Talk to them too. This can make it even easier to feel comfortable around a guy. Talking to a group of people takes the pressure off of you, and gives you the opportunity to talk to the guy you feel shy around.