How to Stop Laughing When You Are Shy or Embarrassed

Sometimes you can't help feeling shy or embarrassed, causing you to react by laughing or smiling inappropriately. It can be difficult to stop this behavior, but there are techniques you can use. Calming thoughts, distractions and controlling contact with the source of your embarrassment are some methods that can help you.

Instructions

Calm Yourself

• 1

  Prepare for an embarrassing situation in advance, if it is anticipated, by clearing your mind and taking deep breaths in private. Think serious thoughts before entering the situation.

• 2

  Take a calming breath when the embarrassing situation or shyness hits you. Do this slowly and quietly so that no one notices that you are nervous.

• 3

  Notice the rhythm of your breathing and the rise and fall of your rib cage as you cope with the source of embarrassment.

• 4

  Count slowly from 20 to 1 when you feel an urge to laugh.

• 5

  Perform multiplication tables rhythmically in your head, coinciding with the timing of your breathing. Every time you exhale, mentally produce the answer to the multiplication. This takes a lot of concentration and may not be suitable for situations where you are required to speak with people.

Limit Embarrassment

• 6

  Avoid eye contact with the source of your embarrassment. For example, if you are embarrassed by the person you are talking to, avoid eye contact and look between her eyes at the top of her nose. She will not be able to tell the difference, and the embarrassment of the conversation will be greatly reduced. If you are walking past something or someone embarrassing, look the other way.

• 7

  Think of something that makes you want to cry. Although this can be upsetting, this often squashes an uncontrollable urge to laugh and distracts you from embarrassment.

• 8

  Pinch yourself or pull on the hair on your arms. Mild physical pain is a way to distract yourself from the urge to laugh and snap you out of your inner world. Some people wear elastic bands on their wrists to snap every time they become overwhelmed by inner thoughts or shyness.

• 9

  Notice other details around you. Focusing on sounds, colors or weather is a way of taking your inner focus from what is embarrassing you.

• 10

  Cough rather than laugh if necessary, and then resume distraction and calming techniques if you still feel shy or embarrassed.