Problem with Shyness
 

Well, from my experience (and mine alone), if you really want to change, you will. I'm shy as hell myself, and the stupidest things make me nervous. Like with you, returing a phone is just enough of a reason to make me shake all over the place (I actually need to take various deep breaths and play the conversation in my head quite a few times before I dial). But for example, I'm not so shy anymore when talking to people and meeting new folk, I strive to talk more and impose my opinion when I feel like I have to (quite often) and after being trumpled for years, I have also finally started standing up for myself.

So, in short, I don't know how old you are, but I do know that most likely, when you're ready, you'll start taking baby steps in order to control your shyness. It will be difficult at first, but soon you'll get the hang of it. Maybe start saying "no" more often instead of a reluctant "yes" to avoid conflict (if you are guilty of doing this, I know I was). When you disagree with people, start saying that you disagree and explain why. It will take some time (I'm twenty one years old and just started being assertive!), but with baby steps you'll get going pretty soon.

Shyness is normal.
My own experience, I used to be shy and didn't speak my thoughts out often. I used to be afraid of authority because I used to get hit by my teachers.
What I did was force myself in situations where I had to talk. I do a business course where presentations and group work with various people are frequent. I also travel alone, get lost a little and try to find my way back, in both my native language and one that I'm not great at. xD

You just have to practice until you get used to it. You'll always be shy and introvert but you'll learn to put it away in certain situations. That's just who we are.

And yes, you will blunder and you will embarrass yourself but it's all a good learning experience and you'll be able to laugh about it later on.

Just take it slow and push yourself but not so much so that you end up traumatising yourself.

I used to be really shy to the point where I wouldn't talk to anyone. Getting into broadcasting helps me get over my shyness a lot. There was a lot of group work when I was in school with it and I learned that talking to people isn't so bad after all. I also always used to worry about what others thought of me. I had a serious discussion with myself one day and asked myself why. I had no reason so I began to just care less and less about what others think and worried more about me. The way I see it is if people can not accept me then it's their problem, not mine.

well, I used to be painfully shy as well, and then my middle school/9th grade I was exposed to some very mean people who made me even more shy and distrusting ):

I am glad to say I am not that person I was anymore, I've since learned to stand up for myself, even if I do it quietly and politly, and to be a little more outgoing and to talk to people.

I was lucky enough to have a really good friend in tenth grade, and to have switched to a school full of nice people who helped me, but in the end a lot of it was still me just trying to speak more, and to be less shy. Practice makes perfect they say!

I've had similar breakdowns, I used to have a serious issue with breaking down when ever people yelled, because I grew up around a lot of pointless yelling >.<

I don't really know what caused it or why I don't have the issue so much anymore, but I do think a lot of it has to do with my establishing a independence self-identity.

if you ever need to talk about anything though, we're here for ya! -huggles-

oh, I know that feeling! D:
-pats- I wouldn't worry too much unless it starts to feel like your breakdowns are becoming very irrational and controlling, or you start having Panic attacks. if you start having panic attacks, go see a trustworthy psychiatrist to help you get over 'em. It's not a big thing wrong or anything, just with panic attacks, if the more you have them, the more likely you are to get another one, and they aren't fun so best just to deal with them and move on.

I had mostly been ignoring the problem, so i'd let it get worse over years, though in about 6 months of seeing a counselor at my college, she'd completely gotten me over the issue ^.^

Though I still don't like yelling, I'm calm and focused through it, I think what had happened for me is long-not-dealt-with issues with a bipolar (who's not/hasn't been acting like it in a while YAY!) mom, and cause everything else to be effected! D8

but yeah, I think once you start to up your self-confidence, then the worry of disappointing people should become less ^.^
If you're in school, perhaps one of the easiest ways to meet cool people is to join some clubs of those with similar interests~

i think most colleges also have a website somewhere that will list all clubs too ^.^ and then club fairs near the begining of years/terms

I'm very shy too. I'm very very very much an introvert naturally.
The only way to really get over it is to just go, "gosh darnit!" and just...do!
When I'm really nervous about calling someone, I take a deep breath and call them anyway. Either they'll pick up or they won't.
That said I can be a total wuss sometimes...like I'll make my boyfriend order dinner for us, or I'll make him talk to our neighbor about the wifi because I'm shy and I would just rather not deal with people if I don't have to.
But I don't really have a problem with my shyness. Where I need to get things done, I do. I don't let it slow me down, and sometimes, even with how shy I am, I can still participate in a group discussion, something I was not able to do a few years ago...it just took a lot of taking a deep breath...and just doing it...and then after a while it was much less scary. I'm still not always keen on it, and would much prefer a one-on-one discussion, but I am capable of other things, which makes me happy.

May I also suggest you see a therapist? :) They can sometimes offer insight into the minds of others, and sometimes knowing how someone might react or think about something, makes them a little less scary...People will always be unpredictable however, but it doesn't hurt to have someone else's opinions.

i used to be a really quiet person. it hadnt really registered with me, that's how i always was. in fact in public i rarely even showed any emotion whatsoever. (one of my now best friends thought i was alexithemic when she first met me 3 years ago) about a year ago, i got tired of being invisible. i had had a bad break up recently and it was killing me that i had no one to confide in. no one knew me, so no body cared. i mean, i never talked so i didnt have that many friends. so i would look for someone that seemed about as lonely as i was, and i'd go up and talk to them, no matter how loud my brain screamed "ABORT MISSION! ABORT MISSION!" i met one of my best guy friends that way.

lesson learned: whenever you feel the urge to stay quiet, dare to say something out loud. I've lived by this self-imposed rule for a while now, and im glad i do.

----------

also: to keep myself from breaking down (i used to do this fairly often), i started keeping a journal. in it, i write down anything that was bothering me, pieces of poetry i composed, quotes i find in various places (books, websites, movies, etc.). by releasing the negative, i find myself in a much better mood. sometimes i ask my friends to read my work, and they always ask me how such an upbeat person could write about nothing but sadness, pain, and occasionally hope. my journal is a pressure release valve. try it. it really does work, i swear. here's one i wrote recently:

boots click-clack on cobblestone
and splash through puddles of rain
I'm going to a place far away from here
where the sun will shine again.

i walk with no umbrella
as the freezing raindrops fall
and yet i'd rather remain in agony
than be numb and feel nothing at all.

hope this helps