17 Life Situations Where You Can't Let Your Social Awkwardness Get in the Way ...

No matter how socially awkward you are, there are moments when you simply have to roll up your sleeves, pull on your big girl panties, and act like you're actually cool, confident, and perfectly capable of acting like a fully functional adult. It is surprisingly hard to do this. The socially awkward struggle is real so that even seemingly innocuous situations are cringe-inducing. I would like to avoid all of these situations for the rest of eternity. Since that simply is not possible, the most you can do is to be aware of what they are. Then you can be a little prepared, at least.

1 The Dreaded Job Interview

Doesn't matter how awkward you are or how uncomfortable you feel, you have to get your ish together when you sitting in front of that hiring manager.

2 Giving Your Order at a Restaurant

This probably involves actively studying the menu before your server comes, not just so you can pick out what you want but so you can memorize it and practice saying it, thereby reducing the risk of completely mangling your order and embarrassing yourself.

3 Calling for a Doctor's Appointment

It's okay if your palms are sweating when you make the call, no one can see you.

4 Actually Visiting the Doctor for Your Appointment

Someday you'll reach a point where you're no longer afraid of calling the nurse “mom.”

5 Taking Public Transportation (because Other People Might Sit Next to You)

Somebody's going to sit next to you and it's really okay – but you might want to have a book or your headphones or something, just in case.

6 Doing Anything at the Office

Talking to colleagues, putting on a presentation, ordering something for lunch in the cafeteria ...

7 Participating in Class

It's hard to tell which is worse, getting called on when you don't want to answer or forcing yourself to raise your hand so you can actually participate – but the fear of accidentally saying something stupid is always there.

8 Sharing an Elevator with Someone You Kind of Know

Do you talk or is this supposed to be a silent, painfully awkward ride?

9 Entering a Room Full of People

Especially if you don't know anyone – this will happen to you and you must know what to do, or else you'll be forced to disappear forever and live under an assumed name.

10 Talking to Your Superiors

Oh, you absolutely have to step it up when you're talking to superiors, but it is so difficult because they are so big and important, and they so often hold your future in their big, scary hands.

11 Engaging in Any Kind of Small Talk, Anywhere

Small talk is an invention of the devil and no one will ever convince me otherwise.

12 Arriving Late to a Social Gathering

Especially when you don't know anyone, so all conversation stops and everyone turns to stare at you and oh my god, I have to go breathe into a paper bag real quick.

13 Talking to the Stylist about What You Want

One wrong word or nervous stutter and you might end up with a mullet.

14 Comforting Someone Who's Sad

You have to get over that awkward tendency to just pat them on the head while continuously whispering, “There, there. There, there.”

15 Eating Food in Front of People You Don't Know Very Well

Try to avoid ordering finger foods or anything that drips a lot.

16 Meeting Your Partner's Family for the First Time

So many possible missteps, so many potential disasters, so much crushing pressure.

17 Meeting Anyone New, Ever

What are you supposed to say, even?

I'm not ready. Are you ready? I'm not ready. I have not yet upped my game.