Hi..
It feels weird to ask a place with only strangers whether they also hate meeting new people.. sorry if I'm offending anyone with this.
I am just wondering if anyone else has this too?
I am starting a new job soon and I know that there's going to be social events (new joiners, holiday, and going to the pub) where i will just have so much anxiety.. i hate meeting new people and because i'm new, I will get anxious and think people looking at me and judging me for being alone. I find it difficult to interact with people already, and especially when I don't know them... I just really hate these things and I want to just cancel and say i'm sick or something. i think it's also worse because i'm alone and people will think i'm a loser and awkward and i'll just make it worse for myself than if i didn't go at all.
i feel like people will look at me and stare and think i'm weird for being alone. that even the people who just met me and are kind of supposed to introduce me and stuff don't even like me..
also these work events will probably be in crowded places which i also hate..
does anyone have any advice for talking to strangers/small talk with new colleagues? just how to get through it really.. thanks