Is it really possible to "learn" social skills?

[puqdew]

I have severe social anxiety, OCD, depression, GAD and ADD.

I absolutely need to practice my social skills.

I have a mic. Is there like an voice chatroom you can recommend?

 

[yhelothar]

skype
find random people with the white pages and call em up.

 

[holden j caufield]

go to a karaoke bar. Once or twice and you'll be rid of any social anxiety.

 

[TridenT]

You probably need some medication.

 

[PottedMeat]

go outside

 

[venkman]

GAD?

 

[venkman]

Originally posted by: PottedMeat
go outside

but....but.....the light!!! It burns.

 

[mizzou]

it's only possible to fake it, and faking it is much much worse!

 

[Howard]

Yes. Like with any other activity, the skills required improve with practice.

 

[MotF Bane]

No. You are doomed to live a life of isolation.

 

[MercenaryYoureFired]

We all learn social skills, it's not something anyone is just born with. You however seem to have more issues than just the lack of social skills, get those worked out and social skills will come naturally.

 

[bigrash]

You're not normal and you'll always fail trying to communicate with others. Just stay in the basement. Video games and pron is all the skills you need.

 

[venkman]

Originally posted by: bigrash
You're not normal and you'll always fail trying to communicate with others. Just stay in the basement. Video games and pron is all the skills you need.

There's no shame in hiring a hooker

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Vent...

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

what's with asians and social anxiety?

 

[venkman]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
what's with asians and social anxiety?

having a small penis does that to you


not that i would know from experience

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: venkman

Originally posted by: bigrash
You're not normal and you'll always fail trying to communicate with others. Just stay in the basement. Video games and pron is all the skills you need.

There's no shame in hiring a hooker

No there's certainly not, but with the list that the OP sez he suffers from...he'd be too afraid to even talk to one...let alone "interact" with one.

(to the OP)
Dude...you're just fucked up. How have you managed to survive this long?

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Watch others around you. I used to be a shy, reserved kid that mostly hung around with other geeks and introverts. Later, around the Eleventh Grade, I started spending a lot of time with my hypersocial older brother and his 'cool clique'. I noticed that while his circle did have several advantages - witty, generally good looks, arrogant confidence - the key to their success was resilience. Sure they struck out a fair bit as well. But they never gave up. I tried to emulate that, then later I actually became that guy (i.e. no longer pretending). By the time I hit college, I was actually one of the popular kids. The connector that knew everyone. Sure, later I became a recluse after I got jaded with the life but that's a whole other story.

OP: any generally decent people at work/school? A little generic chit-chat around the water cooler, just enough for them to recognize you. If you are pleasant and non-creepy enough, it should only take a few days before someone asks you to join them for lunch/beer/whatever.

Most shy people generally see some kind of major flaw/defect in them. For me, it was massive overbite that I had corrected in the Tenth Grade. I'm pretty sure the overbite was the reason I felt so self-conscious all the time. Do you have anything that bothers you (about yourself)?

 

[amdhunter]

Forums are a great place to learn social skills.

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: astroidea
skype
find random people with the white pages and call em up.

Actually, yeah, calling random businesses in the phone book does help.

 

[puqdew]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
what's with asians and social anxiety?

howd you know i was asian

 

[puqdew]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: venkman

Originally posted by: bigrash
You're not normal and you'll always fail trying to communicate with others. Just stay in the basement. Video games and pron is all the skills you need.

There's no shame in hiring a hooker

No there's certainly not, but with the list that the OP sez he suffers from...he'd be too afraid to even talk to one...let alone "interact" with one.

(to the OP)
Dude...you're just fucked up. How have you managed to survive this long?

I've become a master of faking happiness and confidence.

 

[Quasmo]

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ht_key=y&keyword1=vent

 

[JulesMaximus]

We've been teaching you this since you could shit in your pants.

You ain't got it yet? WTF???

Damn it feels good to be a gangster...

 

[puqdew]

Originally posted by: astroidea
skype
find random people with the white pages and call em up.

Not a bad idea. It scares the fsck out of me tho.