I can definitely understand how frustrating it is when other people undermine SP. Although I have never told my parents, they're the type of people that believe, if you're not bleeding, then you're not hurt. They don't even think I'm shy anymore, now it's more stuck-up. Which I'm not.. I'm not anything even remotely close to being stuck up.
But lately, I've been making a constant effort to change, even if I have to humiliate myself in the process. Forcing yourself to be happy or smile/laugh a couple times a day does help sometimes.