Introduction

Hello..

I, like many people out there, have spent a lifetime being terrorised by the crippling condition commonly referred to as shyness.

Living with shyness feels like you're stumbling around your bedroom, trying to get an overly tight jumper over your head. Hampered and unable to see properly. Panicking at the thought that people can see you struggling. (A literal example of this will follow in a future chapter).

This written piece is an attempt by me, a middle aged husband and dad of two kids in single figures, to share my experiences of shyness and convey certain tactics that I have developed to deal with the dastardly condition. Experiences that can be both hilarious and terrifying at the same time. With me experiencing the terror and any perceived onlookers experiencing the hilarity.

I was mostly affected by shyness between the ages of 10 and 25. But there are still pockets of shyness that affect me greatly. like the melting of snow after a big fall. Some areas will be completely free of snow, but there will still be some deep pockets of the white stuff in shaded corners. I still have many shaded corners. The dreaded 'party' being one such pocket of snow!

I'll also address the unusual positive effects of shyness that I believe can be utilised. Getting any positivity out of a shyness episode can be tough. Like hanging onto the tail of an enraged bull. But it's possible, with some self training.

This is in no way a scientific approach to the shyness phenomena. No PHDs here. It's a personal account, that hopefully resonates with other shyfighters out there. The bare bones of experience, is what I'm revealing here.