How can I overcome my extreme shyness?

walk around the block naked... trust me

There are lots of ways to approach this and there is some good advice above. I'll take a different approach. Beer, wine or other alcohol are a great help - you are old enough to drink I can see from your question. I'm not saying alcoholism is a good cure for shyness. I'm saying that some light social drinking will loosen you up and lower your inhibitions and you will be less shy. After several outings, you may not need the booze any more, as you realize that you can be just as interesting and liked without the alcohol.

I don't think my shyness is quite as bad as yours, but I too am extremely shy. I don't talk much unless I'm with people extremely close to me and I very rarely express myself fully. I have been able to overcome my shyness around strangers though. I remember that they are people that do not know and will probably never see me again. However, this certainly does not help with people I actually know, so I can't help you there. Still, maybe by being yourself you might meet someone on accident.

Sometimes, you just have to face it. If you're in a group of people, try talking to the person next to you. Ask a question, because everyone likes talking about themselves. Work up to talking to a whole group of people. You may never be completely comfortable talking in front of people, but practice certainly helps.

If you fell nervous talking in front of real people, then why don't you try talking to people on the net first? They are still people whom you don't know but you're just communicating with them in a different manner...

I totally understand your problem. I use to have the same problem, now you would never know it...in fact, I probably talk too much.... Here is an article I wrote about this topic. I hope it helps. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/276877/how_to_make_conversation_with_anyone.html You have to push beyond your limits of what is comfortable, this article will give you some tips. Best of luck.

Eliminate Social Anxiety Shyness - http://SocialAnxiety.uzaev.com/?GOly

just practice small talk places you go say some stupid **** like the weathers nice or whatever just do it like nike says just think about it this what if i talk to this person what can they do to me.....not a damn thing besides ignore you and if they do o well life goes on and everybody puts their pants on one leg at a time thats why we are human

for me is i started breaking out of my shell while with friends, get friends who can go streaking with you just cuz you wanna. You'll see you start doing it more and more and more, like a bike with training wheels, you're so use to the extra wheels and then when you take them off you think u dont like it, then eventually you'll realize that you could do it all along, you just needed a little help to start Hope i could be help

Just try to be yourself and relax and not think to much, I have the same problem around crowds and when I think about it, it gets worse

try to be friend with people that love to hang around... it'll change u litlle by little... i got fren that shy type also... but when he become friend with this other guy.... man.... now.. he cant stop talking... ^________^