I don't have to "act" like anything, because I'm EXTREMELY fair-skinned, and when I'm nervous or embarassed about ANYTHING, it shows up instantly on my face, neck, and chest. As in I flush bright red. Since I'm so light, it's visible a mile away. The worst part of it is because I KNOW I turn really red, it makes me even MORE self-conscious, making the problem worse. I just want to hit the "reset" button and try again :crazy:
^This, exactly! It drives me crazy, having my thoughts broadcast like that without my permission. :frustrating:
And it only makes it worse when somebody looks at me and says, "You're blushing." All I can do is say "Um, yeah," and blush harder.
'S part of why I'm working on getting a tan.:wink:
My nervous habits really depend on the situation. If I'm in a place or atmosphere that I'm uncomfortable with, I generally stand rigidly in the nearest corner and hope that I'm invisible as I observe the goings-on. If it's a specific person that's making me nervous, I'll laugh awkwardly a lot, and I might have some trouble following the flow of conversation. Which, in turn, makes me feel like an idiot, which makes me more nervous.
Stupid vicious cycles. *sigh*
And, even if I'm not really bothered by the situation to begin with, if I'm caught off guard or momentarily confused by something, it's pretty easy for me to lose my mental footing and become flustered/disoriented. At that point, I need to escape to the nearest restroom or otherwise quiet place and regain my bearings.