Social Confidence

[Elem]

I am looking to learn how many of you have experienced confidence issues with your social skills.

Specifically, I would like to learn what problems and challenges you have related to your issues with confidence.

What remedies you have tried?

What has worked for you and what hasn't worked?

What you have found the most frustrating?

Where you currently are with your confidence?

And what type of support you have received so far?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Guppyfry]

I use the "fake it until you make it" method. Some stuff I won't put myself through though, like boozy parties, noisy restaurants, social interaction with people that stress me out.

But for work, and everyday interaction, I've worked on standing tall, looking at people, picking up conversational skills. Not all at once, that would be exhausting and worthy of a meltdown!

Little by little: My mother used to say "Walk as if you are wearing a Crown", and I still think of that imaginary crown I'm wearing when walking.

I set baby step goals and work towards them: Look at people when talking to them. I start by looking at their chest - after a while (weeks/months of practice), I'm comfortable enough to move up to looking at their neck, then the chin, etc, until I can look at them eye level. Still can't look anyone IN the eyes, but I think just looking at them full face, eye-level, nobody knows any different.

Watched TV shows and play-roled interactions to teach myself normal intonation, conversation rhythms, timing etc. Still struggle a lot with that, but most people wouldn't pick up that I'm autistic.

 

[The Penguin]

I do challenge people making a YouTube video speaking about a subject like I did with this thread to Confidence Speaking By Making Videos . I find the more I do it, the higher my confidence level is speaking to an audience.