Do you ever experience anxiety while having conversations online?

I do.

In fact, I've only just gotten back to my computer after having spent a good 30 minutes trying to regain my composure in the bathroom. I feel pretty silly for having a panic attack in the comfort and safety of my own house. The thing that caused it was pretty stupid as well. I was playing this text-based roleplaying game when I got jumped by a guildie who decided to help me complete a quest after I had repeatedly died and failed to do so myself. (Yes I realize this sentence makes zero sense to all you non gamers out there.) Anyway I got startled and was at total loss of words. I think I muttered a lame excuse about having to attend to RL matters before I quickly shut down the game and made off. Ugh, I didn't even thank him for helping me out. I don't think I'd dare to log on again, I sure made a great first impression there.
mg:

My complete utter lack of social skills combined with limited English vocabulary makes for very awkward situations, both online and offline. I thought using forums, chatrooms and computer games would be a good way to expose myself to some social interaction, but it seems I can't even manage to express myself on the internet. :sad:

I don't know if this will make you feel any better but you write very well. You definitely expressed yourself in clearly in this thread.

Your English skills look fine to me. I think you are being too hard on yourself. Anyway you are not alone, there are plenty of members of this forum who get severe anxiety online, and some can't post at all.

Every now and again I misinterpret the words in a post and think someone is having a go at me, and they are not. Defensiveness and sensitivity is a part of who I am, and I am not proud of that.

I feel anxiety online when people ask me personal questions that I would rather not answer. I either struggle to come with vague responses or just tell them flat out I would rather not answer.

By the way, your English looks fine to me. It's possible you could thank the guildie the next time you log back in.

laure15 said:

By the way, your English looks fine to me. It's possible you could thank the guildie the next time you log back in.

Click to expand...

I agree, nothing wrong with the english.

I always like to take a risk (in this case log in again and thank the guildie) I feel bad if I don't face my fear. I like to get it "over and done with".

As others have said, your English seems fine. I've met foreigners who think their English is terrible and I usually am thinking, "Huh?? They sound fine to me!" I think you know it better than you think you do.

I'm sorry you had that experience, though :/

Do you mean text based or voice based online conversations? Textually, I had a very hard time at first, but have gotten into a comfort zone of sorts. Any situations outside of it, like a new person I want to leave a good impression with, does make me nervous though. Even if easier than with spoken word, still very difficult.

Voice based online is absolutely no different then real life talking for me. If anything it's harder since it feels like there is a certain pressure to say something, and I can't use my hands or nods to communicate instead.

Both mediums are talking, and I have the same troubles with them online as I do offline. If random people came up to me in real life and started talking to me unexpectedly, my first response would probably be to get out of the conversation, just like you online. In the situation you explained online, honestly I'd probably just have the conversation feature turned off if possible, preemptive avoidance! If I was using the feature though, and people started talking to me, I would become very nervous, possibly too nervous to play anymore or to talk at all. Lot's of others probably relate too, things like that we can get used too I think though. Don't worry.

What game you playing ? MUD?

I used to get nervous on games, too. I always worried I'd be that one idiot who had no clue what was going on and messed things up for everyone else.