Social anxiety with my friend group

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I am in college, and I am in my fourth semester. last semester I worked a theater production on campus, and I met the most amazing group of people. I have a lot of friends that are not really close, and because I had a rough childhood, I am just now really focusing on spending time with friends (parties, hanging out around campus or around town) and these social situations that I have not experienced before (I am from a small conservative town) has made me realize my social shortcomings.
this group is very tight knit in the sense that they are all recurring workers in the campus theater branch, but they are all subgroups other times. I hang out with a few of them individually, and I am taking a stagecraft class with some of them this semester because they recommended I take it, and I go to the same parties with the groups. however, in the class, or around campus, I have trouble socializing with some of them.
my stagecraft class really highlighted this to me; there are several people I know in that class, and I recurring hang out with a few of them, but in class they all gravitate into a group together, and I dont really feel comfortable pushing my way into that group without invitation because they all have such a strong background together that I cannot share.
I spend all my time with them panicking about what they are thinking about me, and over-analyzing every movement they make and assuming I did something wrong or I am bothering them.
should I try and assume I am welcome with them? or should I simply try and make friends with other people in that class?
I dont know if my feelings of insecurity means I should back away from this group, or try and be more social with them and treat them like real friends.

Category: Tags: asked January 24, 2014

2 Answers

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Have you tried just walking into class with one of them? If you see them outside. If you can become comfortable with one it's sort of a way to enter the group easily to test the waters. If you walk in caught up in a conversation, you may find yourself in the group with no effort. You are definitely over analyzing things. Honestly, while you are standing there, they probably are not just critiquing your every move. Just be yourself and if you find you don't fit in, then don't fake it and stay uncomfortably. It's just a matter of walking over and saying hello. Good luck!
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If you are friends with most of them individually, I don't see you having any problem trying to integrate into their group of friends. You sound like you'd be welcome. Go for it. If they don't warm up to you straight away, don't panic. They have a habit of talking to each other when in the group, you just need to start conversation and/or make sure you contribute and make yourself know. They'll get out of that habit and it'll be like you were always in that group. I hope this helps. Good luck.