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Making friends when you’re shy can be difficult. You turn on the TV and see groups of friends effortlessly going to concerts, spending time in parks, and staying up all night watching movies together. It all looks so easy, but in real life, making new friends requires putting yourself out there, taking time to build connections, and having faith in yourself. These things take work when you’re shy, but if you try, you’ll find that they are very much attainable goals. This article will explore the many ways you can push yourself to make lasting and meaningful friendships when you are introverted or shy.
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QuestionHow do you make friends at work when you're shy?Ashley Pritchard is an Academic and School Counselor at Delaware Valley Regional High School in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Ashley has over 3 years of high school, college, and career counseling experience. She has an MA in School Counseling with a specialization in Mental Health from Caldwell University and is certified as an Independent Education Consultant through the University of California, Irvine.The first thing you should do is just introduce yourself to everybody. Let people know your name and preferred pronouns if you have any. Then, just look for common ground with your coworkers. If they mention watching a football game and you're a huge fan of football, bring it up! It's a lot easier to establish rapport if you have common ground.
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QuestionWhat if you're a geek, and you're looking for a smart/nerd friend, but you can't find any at your school?Community AnswerFind ways to connect with other classmates about different topics of interest. Focus on finding friends that are kind, friendly, and open to talking with you. Be open to starting a conversation about a variety of things related to school or outside of school. You may find that you have more in common than you realize.
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References
- ↑ Ashley Pritchard, MA. Academic & School Counselor. Expert Interview. 4 November 2019.
- ↑ Ashley Pritchard, MA. Academic & School Counselor. Expert Interview. 4 November 2019.
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/calmer-you/202007/12-powerful-ways-help-overcome-social-anxiety
- ↑ https://socialself.com/blog/no-friends/#making-new-friends
- ↑ Ashley Pritchard, MA. Academic & School Counselor. Expert Interview. 4 November 2019.
- ↑ https://www.girlshealth.gov/relationships/friendships/new.html
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/dealing-with-loneliness-and-shyness.htm
- ↑ https://www.girlshealth.gov/relationships/friendships/new.html
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/dealing-with-loneliness-and-shyness.htm
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/dealing-with-loneliness-and-shyness.htm
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/calmer-you/202007/12-powerful-ways-help-overcome-social-anxiety
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/calmer-you/202007/12-powerful-ways-help-overcome-social-anxiety
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/dealing-with-loneliness-and-shyness.htm
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/platonic-love/201908/the-secret-making-friends-adult
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/social-anxiety-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353567
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder.htm
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- "It helped me understand that you can make friends in a lot of different ways even if you are shy. You can do a lot of things to make friends or to have a few you don't have to isolate yourself from other just because you are shy." ..." more
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