I'm new and here :)

[Rosie the fourth]

I have been dealing with social anxiety my whole life. Meeting new people always gives me butterflies and I go over, in my head, everything I say, fearing I sound like and idiot. I was married to a man who used to say "I should just keep my mouth shut and let everyone assume I am an idiot instead of opening it and removing all doubt". I know he was saying it as a joke however those words still ring in my ears and we have been divorced for 14 yrs. I am planning on meeting my new boyfriends family in a few months. They live in another state I am nervous, I am on the west coast they are on the east. So are cultures are a bit different. Anyhow, I'm here and that's probably more than ya'll wanted to here.

[Dahila]

Welcome to the forum Rosie, I do understand why you use past tense about your hubby. What a jerk, but not much different that my ex.
You should be happy you are going to meet your bf family. Yours cultures are that different. I think you will be ok, but stop hearing that idiot phrase.
You need to avoid thinking about it. People do not realize how much hurt they induced with words...
Rossie you will meet a lot of friendly people who will support you and may give some good advice, I think you are going to be ok. I have been there, done that:))

[Enduronman]

Welcome Rosie!...

and yes, you "overthink" things abit....just let it "be".. :)

[Isabelleva]

Hi Rosie,

I can understand where your coming from, in that it's easy to believe the negative we are told. My stepmother spent all of my childhood installing doubt and self hate into myself. But you are special for who you are! Think about all the positive you are also told about yourself, we always forget and dismiss those comments. What does your boyfriend feel and think about you? He must think your pretty great to want to take you to his family, so it's obviously he sees you and loves what's there. You just need to believe that too and have faith in yourself.

X

[NixonRulz]

If you are as wise as Rosie the third, it will be a pleasure having you here

[issy]

Hi Rosie and welcome. Try not to doubt yourself too much I bet you are amazing person to meet, sometimes I have found that the best people to talk with are the people that are slightly more self conscious about themselves and not the arrogant type that makes you feel intimidated. it's easy to have all these negative thoughts that people have said to us control how we think at times, I grew up with the mums bf making jokes and teasing me about a gap in my teeth, I grew up hating talking to people and was extremely self conscious about it on top of many things. I ended up having invisalign 2 years ago to get rid of my gap so I didn't have to deal with how I felt about myself with one.
The meeting will go great and you will be really proud of yourself for doing it, have faith in yourself because 'you can' do this :)