5 Signs, That Show You Are Being Antisocial

If you find that you have a hard time making friends, it's not necessarily your fault. There are some subtle signs, that show that you might be antisocial, but it doesn't mean you can never make new friends. In fact, there are actions you can take to help improve your social skills and overcome the signs of antisocial behavior.

In our busy world, it is easy to feel like we are in a constant race against time. We may have gotten so caught up in our work, that we forgot what it means to be social. Or, maybe we have been working on perfecting a project and every free minute has gone into that goal. No matter the reason why, it is important to remember that we need social contact just as much as you need food and water!

Antisocial behavior is usually defined as a lack of interest in others and avoidance of social interaction. This definition can be applied to many different scenarios. For example, you may know someone who refuses to mingle at parties, barely talks during office lunches or stops short of participating in group projects at work. You may have even been guilty of antisocial behavior yourself.

Having A Hard Time Making Friends

There are many different reasons why someone may have a hard time making friends. Some people are just plain aloof and do not take to the company of others. Some may have suffered from abuse as a child and carry the scars so deeply into their psyche, that they cannot shake the fear or anger. Some may simply feel more comfortable in the company of an intellectual equal, than a social one. It may seem like an easy way to make friends, but this kind of behavior is usually very self-defeating in real life.

Regardless of the reason, it is important to realize that you are not alone in this struggle. It is perfectly normal and, in fact, very common to have a hard time making new friends. As a matter of fact, everyone goes through this at one time or another. The good news is that this experience is very short-lived. After you have built a few relationships with other people, you can be certain that you will be making new friends all the time.

The first thing you should do is to simply acknowledge that you have a hard time making friends. This is a very different thing, than saying that you will never make friends. Many people who are told that they will never be able to fulfill their social needs begin to feel desperate, and this only leads to more anxiety and loneliness. You can see this as an opportunity to practice being more social, though. Maybe you will even be surprised at how much you actually enjoy meeting new people.

Avoiding New People, Because Of Fear Of Rejection

Some people never get over their fear of rejection. If you are one of these people, you should know that you are doing nothing to advance your cause. Rejection is just something that happens in this world. How you deal with it is what matters. If you are going to make friends, you are going to have to open yourself up to more rejection, than you are currently used to.

The truth is that you have very little control over another person's thoughts or feelings. You might be insulted by someone refusing to acknowledge your existence. In fact, that has happened many times before. It is not a pleasant experience. So, the best thing to do is to build your confidence level by simply being more sociable. This will not only help you with people in general, but with this in particular.

When you reach out to others, you are being very proactive and it shows that you are confident in your ability to make a friend. It also shows that you are a pleasant person to be around with. The very fact that you are looking for friend, shows that you are not only open to the possibility, but you are also in the position of power. There is no reason for someone to not want to be your friend, so long as that person can get over their fears.

You should keep in mind that the earlier you get acquainted with people, the better. This is because there is more chance that you will become good friends with the person. Also, the person will have a higher opinion of you for having made the first move.

Reducing Social Interactions With People You Don't Know

A lot of people have a hard time making friends and one of the reasons why is because they only associate with people that are similar to themselves. This is not a very good policy. The more you associate with people, the greater your chance of making friends.

You should, therefore, seek out interactions with a larger variety of people. Yes, this may mean being rejected, but you will not be rejected instantly. You will be heard and understood, given that you make the effort to communicate.

Try to talk to people when they are in the company of other people. If possible, find some common ground with the other person and strike up a conversation. That was how all your previous friendships began. You find something in common and everyone has a good time.

If the other person is alone, like you, then you may have a better chance of coming off as polite and interesting, but it is still rather daunting. Just remember that the more you talk to people, the more you will come off as sociable and interesting and the higher your chances are of making friends.

Spending Time On Phone, Tablet Or Computer All Day

In addition to not mingling with others, some people also do not socialize with the people around them. They are so preoccupied with their own thoughts, that they do not even notice what is happening in the world.

There are many different ways that this can manifest itself. Some people may spend hours and hours online, playing games or just surfing the internet. Others may spend their time on a digital device, watching videos or looking at memes. Still others may spend their time daydreaming, and not paying any attention to the world around them.

Regardless of the method, this behavior is a hindrance to making friends. No one likes to be around people who are so consumed by their own thoughts, that they are not even aware of what is going on around them. It makes others feel anxious, uncomfortable, and even intimidated.

While you may not be the most talkative person in the world, you cannot really be considered a shut-in, either. You are more of an observer, than anything else. It is only when you are in the company of other people, that you become fully engrossed in what is going on. You should, therefore, change your behavior to one that is more socially acceptable. This means that you should go out and about more and interact with other people.

Having Negative Attitude Towards People And Life In General

If you have a negative attitude towards others, then you will have a very hard time making friends. The people that you are most likely to confide in, are the kinds of people that you despise. If an opportunity to show them how much you dislike them arises, you will not be able to resist.

Try your best to control your emotions and to be as open-minded as you can. But, if it should happen that you give offense to someone, be prepared for the consequences. Maybe you won't become their friend, but you will definitely have an enemy. Remember that you are dealing with people and not merely animals or objects. The only way to treat others with respect is to be respected yourself.

You can't change the fact that people are mean or that life sucks, but you can definitely choose how you react to these things. Your choice defines you as a person. Make a conscious effort to be more kind and respectful. Remember that you are always free to ignore the person, and that you can find other people to be around. But, if you choose to engage, then your conduct will be decided by your choice.

Thank you for reading.