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I can’t talk to men
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Since I (20F) can remember I have had a hard time talking to men. I’m also very pale, so whenever I try and talk to men my face goes bright red. I don’t really know why, I’m a queer woman. Even at work when I am serving men, my face goes red. It’s super embarrassing. Everyone tends to think it’s because I am attracted to them and so I turn red. But that’s never the case. I just find it really difficult to come up with conversation starters with men, but with women I don’t have to even think about it.
i don’t know what to do about this because it’s really bugging me. My coworkers boyfriend came into work and immediately my face went red and I got quiet. I didn’t know how to interact with him. He was also with two other men of similar age to me. I just froze. I just feel more comfortable around feminine energy.
Any tips or advice?
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Hi stell_a178 I am a man and had the problem talking to girls since I can remember going through school never being able to talk to them.And going through adult life I struggled to talk to them and find I can't fine anything to talk about or if i do say something silly.I have found it much easier to msg girls and have great conversations that way.It seems much easier and no pressure.I seem to get a lot of comments saying what a nice caring guy I am that I wouldn't get if I was to talk to them in person.I wonder if you msg guys and find that more comfortable for you?I think it's sweet that you blush when talking to men.For me I find it is a complete anxiety issue and I say it probably is the same for you.i would like to know your thoughts on this.
Take care,
Mark.
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Hey Mark,
Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it.
I think I find it hard to communicate with straight men because I am scared of being judged.
I do find messaging much easier because it gives me the chance to come up with things to say. But, in person there is more anxiety involved because I have to think of something to say on the spot. And I usually get scared that I am going to say something weird, so instead I get quiet and my face turns bright red.
It is just frustrating because a lot of these men are great wonderful people that I’m sure I could get along with. But I can’t even hold or start a conversation with majority of them. I do think it’s because of my social anxiety, but i just find it weird that I only have this issue when it comes to men. I can talk to any woman of any age. But the second a man shows up, I’m silent.
Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to reply.
stella 🙂
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Hi Stella i don't think it's weird you struggle to talk to men and you will find their are a lot of people suffering from social anxiety.I think just trying to keep conversations simple with men.Is their anything in particularly you find scarey about men?I gre up up with one brother and four male cousins.I do have female cousins but I really didn't talk to them even though my brother did.I wonder what your growing up was like and do you have male relatives that you can talk to?You certainly didn't have any trouble replying to me which is nice you can msg men.I think just take small steps.
Mark.
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Hey,
Growing up my father was physically abusive toward my older sister. He never hit me, but I witnessed the abuse at a young age. Apart from that, I have a younger brother and some uncles that I see sometimes. But I was mostly surrounded by women throughout my childhood and into my highschool years.
I no longer live with my Dad because he refuses to own up to what he did. I understand that growing up and witnessing one of the only men in my life abuse and hurt my loved ones maybe impacted my ability to talk to men.
I also find tall men and those that speak with low voices more intimidating. If a man has a clear feminine energy, I tend to be fine talking with them. But I struggle talking to most men, regardless of how they look.
anyway, I just find it exhausting dealing with this because I have to interact with men both at work and at university. But it feels as though this social anxiety is holding me back from making great friends.
stella
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Hi I did wonder their was some form of abuse from a man when you were growing up.This could be one of the reasons you struggle talking to men.Have you ever talked to anyone about what you witnessed as a child ?Witnessing things like that can really impact your life without you realising.Its interesting that certain type of men can be more intimidating for you.Is it just talking with men or do you struggle with having to be in public like on public transport or being in class at uni with men?I think you have taken huge step by knowledging your problem and reaching out here.I am wondering how your female friends react to you having trouble talking to men and if you have told them that you do find it hard?It's very hard for people who don't have the problem to understand and can be really frustrating.Many people have anxiety that effects them in many ways so you are not alone.
Mark.
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Hi Mark,
I do have my own psychologist that i visit every month, so she has helped me understand the impact that my childhood is having on my every day life.
In terms of interactions with men, I tend to just get flustered when I need to communicate with men. I am usually ok when it comes to sitting near a man or in the same class as one. It’s more stressful for me when I am forced to start a conversation with a man.
i don’t have many friends, so none of them really know about my past. The women I interact with at work or at university see my face go red when talking to men and immediately think that I am attracted to the man I am talking to. Or they think I am being awkward - which a lot of people have told me before. So it’s hard because I know I’m being perceived as “weird” or “awkward” when in reality I’m really struggling and feeling uncomfortable.
I have tried to tell my friends that I struggle talking to men, but none of my friends struggle with social anxiety so they can’t really relate. They appreciate where I am coming from but can never truly understand how it affects me. This is what I find exhausting.
Stella
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It is a hard situation to be in.Its good you are talking to a psychologist and hopefully it is helping and give you some ideas to help.Its just probably realising that men are just humans like everyone else.I know I got real nervous if a girl sat next to me on a bus.Things do get better slowly and hopefully you can find it easier.