Social phobia., How do you get over it? Options

[georgeWIRELESS]

( Excuse me, I'm not sure if this belongs here, so if it needs moved, I'm sorry O.< )

I've been shy, all my life. I've never had more than a few friends, I've never been able to speak up to anyone, I've never been able to ask for help because I was afraid.

I failed a grade once because I was afraid to go to school. I don't know why I was afraid.

I don't have much time left before I'm going to have to start making it on my own, only a couple years, which isn't that much.

How can I prepare for the real world when I'm afraid of it?

If I've been this way all my life, will the future be any different?

My parental units say homeschooling is a bad idea, but I don't think it's any worse than public school. I'd get about as much social interaction in homeschooling, with none of the anxiety. >_____>

The more I'm forced to socialize, the more fearful and withdrawn I become.

Everyone thinks pushing me into social situations is the answer, but it's only made it worse.

Have you ever had social phobia? Do you still? If you don't, what changed?

[xTINAA]

I have somewhat the same problem. I'm really shy and I get uncomfortable knowing I'm going to be put into a social situation or things like that.

The only way I think one could ever overcome this is to just be forced into the situations over and over again because although it might cause more social anxiety in the beginning, soon you'll adjust to it and get used to it.

For example, if someone is scared of horror movies, it'd be best to start off small but forceful to watch a horror movie. Then, one that is more scary. Then another even scarier than that. It's kind of like that. You've gotta be in those situations (whether forced or not) and work your way up to bigger things.

Good luck. I know I still struggle with being shy and whatnot.