I wasn't sure exactly where to post this, but I'm posting this here because I guess it's mainly aimed at those who suffer from social anxiety, similar anxiety disorders, or other disorders that cause them to lack social skills.

My question is:

Do you think a class (series of classes or group sessions) in social skills would help you? If the goal of the class was to teach people social skills?

I think something like this would help me, at least a bit, but there is nothing similar close enough to me to get to & they are all aimed at children anyway, except for one which is aimed at people on the autism spectrum. I'm 28 years old & have never been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, so none of those programs would be of any help to me. Plus, they all require health insurance, or money paid out of pocket & I have neither. Plenty of people have recommended Toastmasters & similar things to me, but I know those things would not help me because I would need social skills before I could even do something like that lol.

I would be terrified to go to a social skills class, seeing as how I'm terrified to leave my house & to be around people, but because it might benefit me in the long run, I would try to force myself to go. Knowing that the other people there would also be there because they lack social skills would be a help too.

Sorry if there has been another topic like this previously, I haven't seen it & don't know about it.

I actually would like to attend college partially for this reason. I think that aside from obvious educational benefits, I could get improved social skill as well. I've been in a college environment before, when I got a GED, so I know roughly what to expect. Atmosphere is so much different and better than high school. People are much more mature and less judgmental of others, although, yeah, asses exist everywhere, unfortunately.

As for the class... idk. I think I could be more at ease if I was in a room full of people with similar difficulties... but not sure I'd really want to do that. I need money before I could do either one, first of all.

i don't think so.....but i may be wrong.....its just so extreme to me...

if i heard i wuz to be surrounded by people just like me maybe...

but my problem lies with somthin else and i KNO if i fixed that i wouldn't be sooo reclusive......(for a fact)

It would, as long as the people in the class wouldn't end up making me more socially awkward

But that's partly why I'm look forward to university, as from what I understand I'd end up making a lot more friends,
and also hopefully get some more faith in humanity and be less socially awkward, oh and also get out more

I'd still be reclusive, but hopefully less so, as the amount of time I spend inside isn't too healthy
but also I just need to make the effort to see friends more, as it seems like too much hassle,
so seeing them at school and MSN is the most social I get really

At least places like this forum are there, for people like us to communicate,
as I used to frequent another site which added to my paranoia a bit, and made me think I shouldn't even do anything about my social anxiety

No way i'd be terifyed, so would everyone else and that would just make it more awkward.

No, I'm too stubborn to learn with anyone. I don't like the idea of people more experienced than me helping me. This is why I normally teach myself whatever I want to learn. Also I question everything. Say someone says "You should refrain from doing this in conversation." I will ask "Why?'. I don't have any proof that whatever they are teaching is the right thing so I have to pick it apart. What if what they teach conflicts with my own ideas?

I'd say it wouldn't help much and maybe even be harmful. I went to classes like this a long time ago. It just gave me expectations that couldn't be realized in the real world, which is a lot rougher than these kind of classes are.

Yes, I went to university with zero social skills. Any that I'd had before had all but deteriorated away. It was the most terrifying experience of my life. The first night, I had a bit of a panic attack and locked myself in my room whilst everyone else was in the kitchen. I just froze. I felt so sick with terror. But somehow, I forced myself to walk out and it was alright. I guess I'm lucky that the people I live with are nice. I've learnt how to be more at ease around people now, even if I am still awkward. Socially, I am much better off.

I don't know about a social skills class though. I think that getting real life experience of people and social situations would probably be more helpful, because it's real, but a class might still be helpful in some respects, though limited. I actually used to think that a social skills class would benefit me greatly.

I've changed my mind a bit since then, as I'm still looking forward to uni being easier than school, now I've been thinking about how comfortable I am at home, but also how out of so many people in my year,
I can only really trust like 3 people or so, so I am still kinda hoping I make friends easily at uni, and I wouldn't want flatmates who stay up late partying frequently and then I can't sleep

But it would take a while to get used to, but I also hope I get into a good uni aswell, because I'll need to work really hard to get the grades for offers.