When Your Main Social Problem Is That You Don't Fit In

Lacking specific interpersonal skills is one broad type of social problem. Another is being too shy or insecure around other people. The third general problem area is a little different, it's when you don't fit into the social norm, and that's what's causing you problems.

Not fitting in could mean things such as:

Of course, social awkwardness, shyness, and not fitting in do sometimes go together, however there are many cases where someone feels their communication skills are fine, they're not anxious around people, but their social lives are suffering because they're different.

The extent to which someone doesn't fit in could be very subtle and more irritating than anything. For example, someone may mostly be similar to their social circle, but get condescending little comments for one opinion they hold. In the middle of the scale might be someone who is part of a sub-culture that's not well represented in their area, and is lonely as a result. At the other end of the scale, someone may blatantly stand out from the norm and draw everyone's negative attention.

The consequences can differ too. Like in the example above, on the mild side, all that may happen is you get some friendly teasing about it, or boring lectures from your mom. Many people have a difference or two that gets them this kind of light flak from others, and they mostly just put up with it. Another more mild consequence is someone who is left alone by others, but doesn't really have many people who want to be friends with them either.

The other extreme isn't anything to joke about. People can be physically assaulted, totally black balled from their community, have their property vandalized, or have their family members threatened and harassed.

What can you do if your problem is that you don't fit in? There's no way I can control the outside world or solve everyone's problems for them, but here are my thoughts. The ideas in this article may also be helpful too. This piece will talk more about what to do when the people in your area seem to be against you, or indifferent to you as a whole. The article linked to below is more about more minor things like requesting some alone time at work. There is so overlap though:

Getting Away With Doing Your Own Thing Socially

Don't feel you have to give in and change

If you're getting problems for not fitting in, then the implicit message you're receiving from other people is that you're faulty as you are, and that everything would be better if you just become more like everyone else. That's not the answer though. It's one thing to have actual weaknesses in your social skills, and people are giving you legitimate criticism and feedback about that fact. It's also one thing to consciously choose to be pragmatic and superficially go along with social norms in order to get something you want. Those situations are different. If someone just varies from the mainstream, they shouldn't have to give into the crowd.

Find your group

It won't be possible for everyone, but if it's an option, seek out a group of like-minded people. Maybe there's a particular bar in your town that caters to your sub-culture, or a monthly meet up that's organized online, or an obscure club at your university you could join.

Live a double life

Sounds dramatic, doesn't it? People in certain sub-cultures, or who have particular philosophies towards life, find they have to do this. They'll decide it's practical to present themselves as average people on the surface, but do they their own thing in their free time. At work they'll follow the dress code, and avoid saying anything too controversial. If one of their co-workers ran into them on the weekend, they may not even recognize them. People who go this route also tend to develop subtle little ways of finding each other.

For some people, splitting into two selves is simply a choice they make. Think of the young clean cut office worker who goes to hardcore punk shows every Saturday. Others feel more forced into it, because their 'real' self would be too misunderstood and rejected otherwise.

Leave the area

If the situation you're in seems bad enough, and you don't see it getting better any time soon, then it may be the right call to move somewhere else. Maybe you can leave fairly soon, or maybe you'll have to hunker down and wait it out for a while. This is one of the classic solutions, used by people who were raised in stifling small towns the world over. Especially when you're younger, you can't choose where you live, and where you were raised may not be a good fit for you.