I’m an extreme introvert, and always have. If I’m invited to a neighborhood “party”, I struggle. I’m incapable of being dishonest or lying, and I associate small talk with insincerity. Or at least, I have no idea how to do it.

I don’t watch tv and I don’t follow sports, so I feel adrift when the conversation turns to these topics. And if I end up in a smaller group of people at some point and feel open enough, my attempts at conversation are awkward at best. Nobody wants to hear about the latest study concerning neurotransmitters and beer. They want to drink and enjoy. Nobody wants to hear about evolutionary psychology and recent studies about height preferences in romantic coupling.

And these failed social interactions cause more anxiety in future attempts. So, I think I am in need of a “win” here.

If I honestly want to be able to survive infrequent social interactions, does anyone have any tips?