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Social anxiety is one of the most widespread fears that usually starts during teenage years. And while many occasionally worry about social situations, someone with social anxiety feels overly worried before, during and after them. It affects their everyday activities, self-confidence, relationships and work or school life, so you can imagine what a heavy burden it may be.

But whoever is looking for a support group online, the ‘Social Anxiety’ corner of Reddit is a safe space to talk about hard things. With 309k members and counting, the subreddit has people sharing painfully funny memes on how it feels to live with this anxiety.

“Whether it's approaching someone you're attracted to or if it's giving a presentation in class, everyone gets a little nervous at times. You may have social anxiety, however, if you feel like throughout your day you're bombarded by anxious thoughts/feelings during social situations that otherwise seem so effortless for most people,” states the subreddit’s description.

“Welcome to the club,” it adds, showing that you won’t feel left out and a bunch of people here do know how you feel. So why don't you all just laugh at it?

#1

I Genuinely Love This Subreddit

I Genuinely Love This Subreddit

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Sheila Stamey
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unless you are tormented by anxiety you don't know what a gift was given. God bless whoever did this!

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    #2

    I Hate When This Happens

    I Hate When This Happens

    MysteryDrawer Report

    It’s important to understand that social anxiety is more than being shy. Although many people occasionally feel anxious in social situations, those with social anxiety have the fear interfering in their daily lives.

    NHS.uk states that you may have social anxiety if you have any of these symptoms: worry about everyday activities, such as meeting strangers, starting conversations, speaking on the phone, working or shopping; avoid or worry a lot about social activities, such as group conversations, eating with company and parties; always worry about doing something you think is embarrassing, such as blushing, sweating or appearing incompetent; find it difficult to do things when others are watching—you may feel like you're being watched and judged all the time; fear being criticized, avoid eye contact or have low self-esteem; often have symptoms like feeling sick, sweating, trembling or a pounding heartbeat (palpitations); have panic attacks, where you have an overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety, usually only for a few minutes.

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    #5

    True

    True

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    Vicky Z
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And in the end you don't watch Netflix because you keep thinking all these!

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    Social anxiety may be especially daunting when things go against the plan and this, as we all know, happens much more often than we’d like. It’s really hard to keep yourself in control for those who don’t have it, but for people with social anxiety it may seem like mission impossible.

    The good news is that there are some cognitive emotional skills that anyone can learn to get through those stressful situations better. Improving such skills has to be made a priority by those with social anxiety, and many other mental health issues like depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, etc.

    #7

    It's Like I Forget I Have Sa For A Second

    It's Like I Forget I Have Sa For A Second

    hotpotato745 Report

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    Vicky Z
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I also have the best advices for other people problems .... not for mine of course! Shouldn't that be some kind of a super power?

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    #8

    "Don't Dwell On Things" They Tell Me... Meanwhile

    "Don't Dwell On Things" They Tell Me... Meanwhile

    iitzraspberryx0o Report

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    #9

    Here’s Some Abuse

    Here’s Some Abuse

    Grouphugintheshowers Report

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    Vicky Z
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    *currently reading bored panda, listening to 90's pop music, not planning to speak to anyone and imagining myself going out in the evening*

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    Bored Panda reached out to Alice Boyes, a former clinical psychologist turned writer and the author of “The Healthy Mind Toolkit” and “The Anxiety Toolkit” to find out more about controlling our frustration when things go against the plan. Alice said that in practical terms, “the more buffer you have in your life, the easier it is to handle stress. Therefore practical solutions like creating an emergency fund can help.”

    #10

    *Checks Excuse Book*

    *Checks Excuse Book*

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    Vicky Z
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    While wishing desperately someone will cancel or a tornado will hit the city and you won't have to go with these plans

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    Having said that, she suggests that if your life isn’t overscheduled and you have more flexibility, then it’s best “to give yourself time and nurturing to recover from knocks. ”Psychologically, it’s always best to remind yourself to take stressful situations one step at a time. “Like, if your car breaks down on the highway, all you need to do first is get out of traffic. Don't get ahead of yourself mentally,” Alice explained.

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    #13

    Never Were Truer Words Spoken.

    Never Were Truer Words Spoken.

    Atari260O Report

    Another way to handle stress is giving yourself some sources of pleasure, like exercise, or podcasts you like. “Things you look forward to, that you can still do even when you're experiencing stress,” the former psychologist explained. In the end, it’s always helpful to remind yourself that stressful events happen to everyone. “They're part of life, but we don't necessarily know what's going on behind the scenes for other people,” Alice concluded.

    #17

    Always The Outcast Of Every Group

    Always The Outcast Of Every Group

    _NeMe-S1S_ Report

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    #20

    Getting A Call From A Unknown Caller

    Getting A Call From A Unknown Caller

    a49620366 Report

    #21

    Teachers : *surprised Pikachu*

    Teachers : *surprised Pikachu*

    zeaNN1 Report

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    Ryan Deschanel
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What ? Being an insensitive bully who uses their tyranical power to publicly humiliate a child does not help them ? How surprising ! /s

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    #23

    I Have Stitched No Truer Words

    I Have Stitched No Truer Words

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    Brendan
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sometimes, I feel like a meeting one-on-one is harder because the onus is on you to make a 50% contribution to the conversation.

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    #25

    Thanks Brain, Very Cool

    Thanks Brain, Very Cool

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    Demi Zwaan
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm still thinking about that time I was 8 (almost 40 years ago) and it was my birthday. I got a toy from my parents and was so happy with it, I ran to my aunt when she came in to show it to her and she had bought the exact same present. I still feel bad about it and I know it's stupid, my brain says it's stupid, I have a million reasons of why it is stupid, but I still feel bad. I hate emotions.

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    #26

    Anyone Else?

    Anyone Else?

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    Sheila Stamey
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yup.right in the eye every time. And you just feel like yelling " I could do it until you got here, doggone it!" My especial special hate; when I'm painting. I paint for me. If you say it's pretty, usually, I love you so much I will give it to,which I'm told is a pretty cool thing. But, don't walk up and say,after watching and umming for a few seconds, " you need to do..." Whatever. I will smack you with a full pallette in my dreams.

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    #27

    Every Time

    Every Time

    rhcpkam Report

    #29

    Anyone Else?

    Anyone Else?

    reddit.com Report

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    Vicky Z
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sometimes this is why i make plans when I'm in a good mood! To force myself to go out! But I regret it most of the times

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    #32

    Here We Go Again

    Here We Go Again

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    Birgit M
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is absolutely me. When I find myself not worrying I start to worry about not being worried.

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    #35

    Mohamedndw Report

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    Daniel Marsh
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why I had such a hard time accepting a diagnosis of depression: I actually WAS happy in bed. Sorta.

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    #39

    Show Me A Better Duo, I’ll Wait!

    Show Me A Better Duo, I’ll Wait!

    helmutstrebl Report

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    Daria Z
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It actually helps me to know most people probably think about their own failures all the time instead of mine :D

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    #40

    A Little Hyperbole To Remind You You're Not Alone

    A Little Hyperbole To Remind You You're Not Alone

    BluePantera Report

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    Ryan Deschanel
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Meanwhile, the people who you think laughed at you (they probably did not) have already forgotten.

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    #41

    Make That 6 Weeks

    Make That 6 Weeks

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    NsG
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is fine. This is less about social anxiety and more about the energy that is needed to be "on" around people. Three weeks might be a little long, but taking quiet time to recharge is perfectly normal. It can be normal for introverts AND extroverts.

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    #43

    Me Today

    Me Today

    reddit.com Report

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    Ryan Deschanel
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Can't we, like, have them all killed ? -No, ma'am. -Why not ? -Magna Carta. -Oh... Right... F**k that thing."

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    #44

    College Parties

    College Parties

    jhaddock Report

    #45

    Yes

    Yes

    kodelop Report

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    Julie C Rose
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My parents actively taught me how to speak up about stuff like this because they knew I was really shy (they don’t know it’s clinical social anxiety) and didn’t want me to be unable to advocate for myself. I’ve gotten money back from a hotel that tried to rip me off.

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    #46

    You Are Not Supposed To Call!

    You Are Not Supposed To Call!

    sdeepak23 Report

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    iBlank
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    mobile phones are the worst! We take them everywhere we go and they can ring at any moment! No wonder we're all losing our minds... constantly dreading the next call

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    #47

    Never Related To Something More

    Never Related To Something More

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    #50

    I Feel That

    I Feel That

    Nico1300 Report

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    Yort
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fear! at the Nightclub is a pretty great name tbh, I like it better than Panic! at the Disco (which I think is a song reference? Idk)

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    #51

    Can Anyone Else Relate?

    Can Anyone Else Relate?

    niaz1 Report

    #53

    Me

    Me

    theRealDeep Report

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    #54

    Either Too Shy Or Annoying

    Either Too Shy Or Annoying

    WolfGirl520 Report

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    NsG
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Annoying by whose metrics? Are you still overthinking the responses you are getting from the people you are newly interacting with and projecting annoyance that isn't there? Social skills are *skills*. You *learn* them, you *practice* them, and you get better at them. And, yes, you make mistakes along the way. Unless the people you are interacting with are obnoxious and rude bullies (stop interacting with them!) nearly everyone will help you get better because we all went through the learning process. No one was born with perfect social skills.

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    #58

    Big Facts

    Big Facts

    Tquinn96 Report

    #59

    I Live In A Dorm There's Literally 20 Rooms In A Single Straight Hallway

    I Live In A Dorm There's Literally 20 Rooms In A Single Straight Hallway

    Hydraccion Report

    #62

    * Proceeds To Type Out A Post For 45 Minutes And Then Deletes It Right Before Posting *

    * Proceeds To Type Out A Post For 45 Minutes And Then Deletes It Right Before Posting *

    dghsehdudne Report

    #63

    I Don’t Know If This Has Been Posted Here Before But I Laughed

    I Don’t Know If This Has Been Posted Here Before But I Laughed

    magnolia56 Report

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    #64

    Tbh

    Tbh

    enad945 Report

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    Luther von Wolfen
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I actually asked a prof for help once and he was totally useless and then said "Does that help?" and I said "Yes." because I just wanted to leave. Then I figured it out on my own.

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    #65

    That Be Me

    That Be Me

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    Miss Frankfurter
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've actually gotten better about that. Now I say "Im sorry, but excuse me".🇨🇦

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    #67

    Hope It Works...

    Hope It Works...

    smth-abt Report

    #68

    Haha Relatable, Now Cry

    Haha Relatable, Now Cry

    prishyboi Report

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    Ryan Deschanel
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "It is a technically true answer, but it is not precisely the one I was looking for, so no."

    #69

    This One Hit Me Hard

    This One Hit Me Hard

    apurba07 Report

    #70

    That Thing Hurted

    That Thing Hurted

    winda544 Report

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    Muff_Fluff
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For all of those people hating on Ryan, I must agree. At school, there is only lunchtime when the teachers allow you to talk, and then you’re trying to eat super quick because of the ridiculously short time they give you to eat. It’s like they don’t want you to have friends.

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    #71

    Always Embarrassing Myself

    Always Embarrassing Myself

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    NsG
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But it is still conveying the same message. It might not be as elegant as practised, but (in this case) it still resembles a cat. The colouring is right. If it looked like a green frog, it's more of a concern, but this is still a cat.

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    #72

    This Hits Real Close To Home

    This Hits Real Close To Home

    RekerOfScrubs Report

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    #74

    Can We Text Instead

    Can We Text Instead

    eggNmayo Report

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    #75

    9samko Report

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    Ginny Weasly
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had to walk into chapel late once because of a music lesson. By far the most awkward thing ever.

    #76

    Heck

    Heck

    Dylanyou60 Report

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    Kimberly Young
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was both. I went first so that I could turn my anxiety off as soon as possible.

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    #77

    Me Coming Home After Socializing, Thinking About How Awkward And Cringy I Was

    Me Coming Home After Socializing, Thinking About How Awkward And Cringy I Was

    dumbpieceofs**tttttt Report

    #78

    I Wouldn’t Want To Bother Anyone

    I Wouldn’t Want To Bother Anyone

    ms20581 Report

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    Sue Hazlewood
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This one I'm mostly okay with. My meals are so often wrong or late I have learned to stand up on this.

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    #79

    Yes.

    Yes.

    fatalismus Report

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    #83

    I Should've Stayed Home

    I Should've Stayed Home

    smth-abt Report

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    Guacamole Boy
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This just happened last thursday. I was tempted to go out for the first time since the pandemic started. I did go out, I met at the place with a few people I hadn't seen in a while. Then more and more people started showing up. Next thing I know I don´t know who to speak to, realized I had made a mistake in going out and simply told myself not to do an effort to mingle since we are still in the pandemic and just go home to be safe from the virus but mainly to be safe of awkwardly trying to mingle with people.

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    #84

    Accurate

    Accurate

    Lucian_D Report

    #85

    What's It Gonna Be Today Folks

    What's It Gonna Be Today Folks

    stuckonganymede Report

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    Ryan Deschanel
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The panic attack looks bigger and had bigger fists. Choose the depression.

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    #86

    Me Too Man, Me Too

    Me Too Man, Me Too

    regian24 Report

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    Ryan Deschanel
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, it is more like "Is this a mean-spirited humiliating set-up for an oncoming prank?"

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    #87

    Fair

    Fair

    ditzy_xj Report

    #88

    Malfi0us Report

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    Daniel (ShadowDrakken)
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Teladoc has been so great for this. Can get appointments the same week, often even the same day!

    #89

    Didn't See That Coming As A Kid

    Didn't See That Coming As A Kid

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    #90

    Can’t I Just Take A Magic Healing Pill

    Can’t I Just Take A Magic Healing Pill

    georgiabread57 Report

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    Julie C Rose
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can build up to it. Before Jacinda gave me a lockdown for my birthday (she also covid-blocked Valentines Day lol), I was volunteering to plant trees every couple of weeks. You’re mostly working on your own but you have a small amount of interaction with people, and the more times you go, the more familiar the others get. Same with a lot of types of volunteering, probably. Also, therapists and good online resources teach you how to address the underlying thought processes. New Zealand has been advertising a good free resource at the moment: https://www.justathought.co.nz/

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    #91

    Thats Me

    Thats Me

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    Brendan
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There was one time when our lecturer asked a question to the class, and I (somehow) plucked up the courage to answer out loud. Then he told me I was wrong, and I still think about it.

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    #92

    Me Irl Whenever I See Anyone

    Me Irl Whenever I See Anyone

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    #93

    Dammit, Scroll Of Truth

    Dammit, Scroll Of Truth

    7ruce Report

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    NsG
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That doesn't mean leaping five kilometers out of your comfort zone on the first attempt. Five cm is a good start though. The mistake a lot of people make when they're told to leave their comfort zone is like thinking "Couch to 5k" is literal - you get off your couch and you run 5km. No. It's a gradual process, and yes, step one is getting off the couch, and that's often the hardest part, but you can always sit back down again and do it again tomorrow. And if it takes you a week to get to step two (walk for a minute) and another week to get to step three (walk for a minute, jog for a minute), so be it. The couch is still there, but at the risk of mangling the metaphor, eventually it's a 5km couch you can jog around.

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    #94

    Why Am I Like This

    Why Am I Like This

    reddit.com Report

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    I I
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    tried it , got a lot of STFU DUDE IM TRYING TO PLAY ,............ so you ware a headset with a mic and you scream at me too STFU ?? seems smart , pay £100 for a headset to TALK AND LISTEN to others just to scream STFU DUDE............

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    #95

    This Is Too Real

    This Is Too Real

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    NsG
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You've mislabelled them as "friends" if you think those are the only two choices for the people you hang out with. Where's the hidden third button?

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