Comments on: All the Conversation Tricks I Use to Be (Somewhat) Less Awkward

By: hakeae

hakeae — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 21:49:00 +0000

Does anyone else get the verbal diarrhoea attack? If I feel self-conscious and the focus of attention, and caught by eg a surprise situation or ad-hoc question – and it can be a work situation or a dating situation – I have a mini-panic attack, go red as a beet and absolute wimpy drivel pours out of my mouth and I just want to run away. All my INFJ other-directedness disappears and it’s like they’re invisible and I’ve been highjacked by aliens … and people look at me as if I’ve been highjacked by aliens!! When I escape and come back to myself again, I feel so bad about how I’ve embarassed, humilated myself, and so annoyed with myself for it happening again. I’ve lost professional respect, which I will have to try to restore; there will never be a second date … Dating is so difficult because if someone is interested in you, they focus on you, which means self-consciousness, stammering, blushing, etc, etc. I have to try to regain my self-control and turn the focus outward again … I hope other introverts experience this too … how do you snap out of the panic attack??

By: njguy54

njguy54 — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 05:12:00 +0000

In reply to Lotte. Dunkin does that too. It’s right ready for you when you walk in. ???

By: Lotte

Lotte — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 03:54:00 +0000

In reply to njguy54. I still remember the day when I discovered you could electronically pre-order your Starbucks order. It's not that I'm a huge Starbucks fan; I was just so excited not to have to talk to people (especially when my order is so complicated because I can hardly digest anything anymore...).

By: Lotte

Lotte — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 03:51:00 +0000

I feel like the odd one out here. I find relief in small talk. I have practiced it, and I feel comfortable with it. I HATE opening up to people I don’t know and don’t feel comfortable with (so… pretty much everyone). If I were on the receiving end of the “Transform Small Talk into Deep Talk” strategies, I’d be feeling nauseated and wishing I were invisible. Seriously.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 03:33:00 +0000

I find that most people like to talk about themselves and things going on in their life. So, if it is someone you see often (like a co-worker) find something that they are interested in. If you find out that they have grandkids, for instance, I like to ask them how their grandkids are. That keeps them talking and all you have to do is listen and ask follow up questions.

By: njguy54

njguy54 — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 13:15:00 +0000

In reply to TKinTX. Seriously! It’s one reason why they’re going under. Here in the Mid-Atlantic, Wawa stores have a wonderful system of mobile app ordering and in-store kiosks. No shouting and no misunderstandings.

By: TKinTX

TKinTX — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 20:47:00 +0000

Nice tips, by the way. Thanks. I normally do chitchat okay. My trouble is that when I’m “baked” I have trouble backing out of the conversation. I have this unfortunate tendency to attract people who want to tell me every detail of their tragic past too.

By: TKinTX

TKinTX — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 20:44:00 +0000

Subway intimidates the cr@p out of me. I like their food, but hate ordering. Any place I have to order on the spot like that is normally a no-go.