Helen Oyeyemi Quotes

I went from being very popular and the head of the clique in the sixth grade to having, like, kid depression in the seventh grade. Not leaving the house. Not looking people in the eye... My body made me feel bad at everything.

I've never had friends, and I don't like to be around big groups of people.

Even at age 10, I already knew that I was different from most people. My anxiety disorder was still years from being diagnosed, but it affected me quite deeply. I was too afraid to speak out in class, too nervous to make real friends.

There's something about being rejected - when I go out without my friends, I'm reminded of how I'm actually quite antisocial. I don't look like a guy who feels like that, but it's very hard for me to start up a conversation. At a party, I'm lost.

I was a nervous kid, not great socially.

My peers, lately, have found companionship through means of intoxication - it makes them sociable. I, however, cannot force myself to use drugs to cheat on my loneliness - it is all that I have - and when the drugs and alcohol dissipate, will be all that my peers have as well.

I am prone to despair. We are all born with a particular personality. I get afraid and then I don't want to leave the house.

I had a hard time with bullying. I ate lunch in the bathroom.

I think, for a shy person - and I was very shy until my mid-20s - having been to an all-girls' school is not brilliant on the boyfriend front later. Because when I went to university, it was definitely like meeting a new species of people. Suddenly, at age 19, I was thinking: 'Can you speak to these people?' I was very, very nervous.

I'm definitely on the spectrum of socially awkward.

I never have anything to talk about.

I just feel like if I start opening the door to talking about my university experience, then people just kind of... own everything. There was a lot of stuff a couple of years ago saying that I was bullied at Brown and awful things like that, none of which were true.

Going to parties usually makes me feel depressed, just because I have such social fear after meeting people.

I'm mostly a mess, and I hide it pretty well a lot of time.

I don't do well in social environments.

I have had a struggle with anxiety, always, and as a proud Jew, that's not a surprising thing.

I am afraid I am totally hermetic to social games in general.

I was nerdy and awkward and didn't know how to talk to people - except online.

I just don't have that natural instinct to be able to let my guard down and start speaking to people. I never have - I've always been a bit socially awkward, even with people I've known for a long time.

I used to think that drinking would help my shyness, but all it did was exaggerate all the negative qualities.

. . . clumsiness is often mated with a love of solitude.

I was too shy to be around real people. It wasn't like old ladies talking to plants.

An introvert as a child, I spent most of my younger years being bullied for my name. It took its toll on me, and by Class VI, I couldn't even have a proper conversation with anyone.

I can get awkward. I am not the best person to break the ice.

I am not popular socially. I am uncomfortable around people.