How to get over shyness about going barefoot

So, basically, I'm real shy about going barefoot anywhere in public, and I can't figure out why. So I'm trying to figure out why I'm so shy, and if there's anything I can do about it.

Growing up, I was never comfortable about going barefoot. I'd never go to the pool with friends, and would even leave my shoes and socks on when we'd have water fights in the summer. If I was at a sleepover at a friend's house, I'd never change my socks where someone might see my feet. For a while, I thought this was normal. Some of my friends seemed very comfortable going barefoot, and would often go barefoot at their houses, and playing outside. Some of my friends wouldn't go barefoot too often, but didn't seem too uncomfortable if they ever did go barefoot. And some of my friends didn't seem to ever go barefoot, and I just thought I was in that group of people.

In 6th grade something happened that made me realize that I was way too shy about going barefoot. We were studying ancient Greece, and my whole class had to work on a play about greek mythology. We'd perform the play for some of the other classes at school, and for parents too. They did this play every year, and I knew from watching it in the past that almost everyone in the play went barefoot. So I was real nervous about doing the play, and I was trying to figure out a way to get out of it, or at least find a way to not have to go barefoot.

Well, I couldn't find a way to get out of the play, since everyone in the class had to work on it. And my parents wouldn't let me get away with pretending to be sick that day. So at school we had to wear these toga costumes for the play. When we were putting the costumes on over our clothes (we had to wear shorts and tshirts that day) everyone started taking off their shoes and socks too. I just left mine on, and hoped that I'd get away with it. We all started to line up in the hallway outside of where we would perform the play. Some people like me were still wearing their shoes and socks, but most of the class was in bare feet now. Even some of my friends who I thought were like me and real shy about going barefoot were barefoot and didn't seem uncomfortable.

But some of us were still in our shoes and socks. I was standing next to my friend Dan who was just real shy in general, and was also still in his shoes and socks. One of the teachers walked by and noticed some of us were still wearing shoes, and just kind of mentioned "oh, guys, go leave your shoes in the classroom." My friend Dan kind of gave a shy smile and started blushing, but took off his sneakers and his socks. I think that was probably the first time that I had seen Dan go barefoot before. Though he looked a little shy, he didn't seem to really mind about being barefoot. I took off my shoes, but left my socks on. Dan said to me "I think you're not supposed to wear your socks either."

Well, there wasn't any way out of it at this point. I got butterflies in my stomach, but I pulled off my socks too. And no one seemed to care or notice or say anything about it. Fortunately I was just in the play for a couple scenes, but I could barely say my lines since I was so nervous about being barefoot.

We did three performances over the course of the day, so I was pretty much barefoot all day. And I started to realize that I actually liked how it felt - the cool floor tiles, the carpet, even going outside on the sidewalk for a few minutes. But I still couldn't get over being so shy and feeling awkward about being barefoot where everyone could see me. But I realized that no one else seemed to be uncomfortable about going barefoot. Maybe a few kids were at first, but after a while no one seemed to care. So I couldn't figure out why I was so uncomfortable.

Thing is, I want to go barefoot more. I think it's more comfortable. I've done some pretty silly things because I'm so shy about going barefoot. Like once my friends and I were playing something at the park, and we needed to use our shoes for bases or something. So most of my friends took off their socks too and played in bare feet. But I left my socks on, and got them all wet and muddy rather than just taking them off.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Or have any advice on how to get over this?

 

try walking around in just your socks at first

 

Well I do that now I'm OK with socks, but don't want to take them off in public.

 

well how come, dont you want to get a tan on your feet ;p
are your feet abnormally hairy or something?

 

I feel your pain Bro! I suffered from foot shyness for many years. so rest assured, you are in good company. I thought I was the only one with this strange affliction until the invention of the internet. Needlless to say it felt good that I was not alone with these feelings.

Back in the 5th grade I had a real scare. On the very first day of gym class I did not wear my sneakers, so me and two other girls were required to take the session in our bare feet. No way was I going to take off my shoes and socks in front of the other kids, so I stood there numb and frozen and played it cool. Somewhow I managed to get away with keeping my shoes on. WHEW!!

My first girlfriend loved to go barefoot, so she would sometimes physically remove my shoes so I would go barefoot with her. I really do give her credit for helping me rid myself of this nearly impossible thing to overcome.

One thing that really helped me through this was going barefoot outside in the cover of darkness, so few would notice that I was barefoot. It then progressed to wearing flip flops and kicking them off to finally having the courage to just leave them behind.

A point what I would like to mention that with a lot of work you can finally rid yourself of this irrational fear and really enjoy the pleasure of going barefoot. Once you do this you will wonder why you haven't indulged in barefooting sooner.

I'm really enjoyed reading your post BTW. Welcome to the forum!

 

Who really looks at feet anyway?

 

I was very foot shy when I was younger. In many situations I was the only shod person, so I told people I hated bare feet, which I didn't.

The good news: You can overcome foot shyness. I did, and so can you.

The bad news: The only way to overcome foot shyness is to take your shoes and socks off.

But it's okay to take little steps to expand your comfort zones.

 

Just buy surf shoes instead. Also maybe you could try the beach, at the beach norms from the street are almost totally deviated from, you might feel more comfortable going barefoot there as the sand feels really nice under your bare feet. Your post made me feel a bit ah naked lol. But I think feet are cool hey. Try not to worry about it. You could try psychoanalysis. It's a simple beautiful method of asking questions such why am I shy? What is this fear? What is a representation of this fear what do I associate that with, what is a symbol for that. I don't know I did that for ergophobia and I came up witht he devil archetype, after putting this sexy red devil on my screen saver for a week I don't think I'll ever be scared of anything again. Anyway psychoanalysis is really interesting, you can find it amongst modern day 'depth psychologists'. Or you can learn to do it yourself from reading books. Such as 'Care of the Soul' by Thomas Moore. Or Jung or even Freud. Or google it. Psychoanalytic method or something. Hope this helps if not best wishes all the same.

 

I generally feel like people who are very self conscious are a tad egotistical. Really, most people won't/don't notice feet. And if they do they won't think about it for more than a second. Same for how you dress/act. Just be consistent and pretty soon they won't notice you being 'different' at all (if they ever did).

 

Maybe just take them off to start with for like 1 minute and build up gradually?

 

I was like you..until I realised that I didn't want to have any regrets in life. You wanna go barefoot? Fuck what other people think...they're just human being EXACTLY like you! When I finally get to my death bed I do not want to have any regrets about not doing the things I wanted to. Do not conduct your life on what other people think! Just do it! (hey that could catch on?).

The first time I went barefoot in public in about 2003 my heart was racing and I felt SO self consious....nearly 10 years later I'm virtually a full time barefooter (when Im not in work) and absolutely love it! You'll get used to it...just go for it. Take the advice from everyone here on the board they're a great bunch of people!

 

I meant to say PM me if you need any friendly help from an experienced barefooter....I just enjoy going barefoot. Nothing else!

 

how are you about wearing flip flops or sandals WITHOUT socks? If you are ok with it, then wear your sandals and slip them off when at a desk. just start in small steps (pun intended), like going out to the mail box or something barefoot, yanno jut to get the idea in your head and get used to the feeling.

 

Being a bit flippant, I would say shift down to New Zealand, no one gives a fuck what you have on your feet! But seriously I would say, just gradually start going barefoot round your house, your yard and then more in public. The more you do it the more comfortable you feel and the less self conscious. Dont forget, we always assume people will be 'looking' at you strangely, often without any foundation at all. Dont make the assumption that people actually care what you have on your feet.
For me, being barefoot all the time, I actually enjoy being barefoot everywhere, its my one chance to express a degree of individuality, although being barefoot here is now commonplace, especially in summer. All I can say, is dont give up or give in to peer pressure....

 

One thing that helped me was being with other people who were also barefooters. If you can find a friend who is less shy than you, and go barefoot together, it will help immeasurably. Or just being with a girlfriend who accepts your barefooting, can get your mind off the feet, while you talk about other things. There are barefoot hiking groups in some places around the US and Europe (you did not mention where you were from). Hook up with them for a barefoot hike. They will really help build your confidence.

After a while, the good feeling of touching the ground will outweigh any shyness, and you will stop thinking about your feet. Others have mentioned--and I find it true myself--that being barefoot a lot relaxes one, and--strangely--makes one more tolerant. I was always brushing bugs off me before becoming seriously barefoot. But now, I can share space with them. The other day, a spider descended from the kitchen ceiling and landed on my arm. The two others in the room saw it. I would have quickly brushed him off me before, but I just let him explore my arm, and told the others it was my pet spider.

My prime advice is to find someone to go barefoot with you.

 

and sometimes ya just gotta plain old DO IT to get over it and...say 15, 20 years down the road (but it feels SO good walking it barefoot, and besides it's really only a few weeks)...you realize that 90% of the terror is YOURS alone and that nobody gives a shit...there is an actual hardcore 10% of morons who will make stupid comments, but being barefoot just invites that among humankind, so deal with it. Besides, YOU'RE the one enjoying being barefoot...let THEM sweat it, the monkeys!

 

My advice is don't put too much thought in it. Besides who looks at feet anyway?

 

Jfdi !

 

I started with my Vibram Fivefingers and one I just said screw it and I took them off and started running barefoot. Try walking bF at night to build your confidence.

 

I attract attention anyway because I only have one foot and use crutches. The fact that my foot is bare does not seem to add much interest.