Growing up and as a young adult/older adult I think I have had more than mere shyness. I’m less that way now that I’m married and have three kids, but I’m still not outgoing. It’s definitely debilitating, but mine has eased with age. Also I think becoming a conservative has helped and interacting with people on this forum has made me less self-focused/conscious.
Self perception is an eternally evolving concept. It changes throughout life.
Despite inviting any smarmy comments which may spring forth on this thread about AvPD, I too am a lifelong sufferer of it. However, like yourself, I've found that just being an honest person with conservative thinking helps go a long way in dealing with it on a personal and social level. I'll never be the "life-of-the-party" ... heck, I probably won't even get invited to "the party"!(/laughs) ... but at least I won't have to go thru all the mental anguish the next day, waking up and saying to myself: "Oh man, what the hell did you just do last night?" ... /chuckle
Cheers,
MM
I applaud your honesty. Some of the verbal knife fights around here do help grow a thick skin.