I need help speaking up more in a conversation?

Question

All my life I've been the quiet one. I'm sick of being that way.

It hasn't really bothered me until recently.

In a big group conversation I just can't participate.

I thought this was because of my Dyslexic brain and the fact that I have speech problems.

But usually I just have nothing to say or I have no interest in what people are talking about.

It's even hard to force myself to join in a conversation.

I've just been the quiet one all my life and I don't know how to change.

I don't really want therapy because my Dyslexic treatment and speech therapy is already going to cost me enough.

I get so jealous whenever my boyfriend mentions doing things with his friends.

I've met them and well what I said above usually happens.

I just sit there and think about how much I don't want to be in that situation.

I have a feeling like it will happen again.

I'm also just so insecure about being in a relationship and think my boyfriend finds me boring.

Whenever I'm over at his place and not doing anything 'physical' we're just sitting around bored.

As a result I want to spend less time so we don't have another day of being bored.

I have few friends, but I barely see them. I don't talk to anyone in my town.

My boyfriend lives 3 hrs away from me, where most of my friends live.

My last best friend moved away when I was 9, since then it's been hard to make friends.

I guess what I'm asking is how do I start talking to people more? How do I actually have fun? I can't believe I'm asking that.

I really don't want to avoid hanging out more with my boyfriend or completely avoiding his friends.

Curse my introverted lifestyle!

I might just also add that I'm usually good at speaking one-on-one but never to 2 or more people.

Answer 1

I think the fact that you are good in speaking on-on-one but not to 2 or more people, is because you like intimate speaking. But why don't you do this speaking with your boyfriend??

I think you should try to find the common things between you and people and talk about. If you feel you have nothing in common with the Friend of your boyfriend, then you don't have to hang out with them. But I am sure you have things in common with other group of people such as work or school colleague.

I will give you an advice, people like funny person. Try to be funny even if that makes you making fun on other people, I know this is not nice but people enjoy it.  

Answer 2

For starters, force yourself to learn public speaking!

http://www.toastmasters.org/  is a good place to start.

I've not gone through this myself but have known others who have and who think it was enormously helpful.

You have to kick yourself in the backside to make yourself do it, but you can! Stretch yourself! Push your boundaries! Step out of you comfort zone!

And good luck!

Answer 3

You can try boosting your self-confidence so you will have this thing in yourself that people will like you. (Not too much confidence, really.)

Tell yourself that you should do it. it worked.