Don't faint from shock, the quiet person is speaking out, maybe not with a voice but with words. Basically the same thing. Said voice is here to shed a little light on the secret life of the quiet people and the struggles we all face on a daily basis.

1. Always being asked to repeat yourself

"What'd you say?" "I'm sorry I didn't catch that?" "Could you please repeat that?" "Sorry, I still didn't catch that." The number one gripe most quiet people have is constantly being asked to repeat themselves because nobody ever hears what was said. Funny thing is, most quiet people feel like they talk plenty loud enough for everybody else to hear. No wonder when asked to repeat a statement multiple times they just tell you to let it go and forget about it.

2. When people forget you exist

Yes, this has happened, not necessarily in terms of existence but definitely in terms of being in class in a group, etc. Sadly, this statement could sum up my entire high school experience; there were multiple times the teacher called on me, forcing me to speak, which also made people remember or realize I was in their class. And yes, people actually said, “Oh, I totally forgot you were in our class.” Good times, good times.

3. Turning into a petrified, terrified little person every time your name is called in class

No matter how old I get or how much I’ve come out of my shell, the utterance of my name by any professor instantly spikes my heart rate and makes me turn into a sputtering idiot; I literally just knew the answer but as soon as the question is asked, poof, it’s gone.

4. Thinking of good things to say but not saying them because nobody would hear you

Too bad the majority of the time we actually get a comeback in the moment and say it, only one or two people catch it and burst out laughing. Then everybody else stares, wondering what they missed. Usually, you end up doing the exact thing you hate, repeating yourself. The rest of the time, we just kind of file the responses away for later use in hopes more people will actually hear the joke and realize how funny we are.

5. Being paranoid other people think you’re stuck up or rude

For most quiet people, this isn’t the case at all. We’re usually the sweetest people on the block, just ask our friends. You may also get the cold shoulder if you happen to be one of the people we despise. However, the instant you make us mad or get on our bad side, that all changes.

6. “I’d hate to see you mad.”

You and me both, bud. For some reason, the idea of a normally quiet and calm person losing their cool and blowing up freaks people out. It’s actually petty understandable because it’s honestly not a pretty sight. On the rare occasion I have gotten that angry, it’s freaked people out. Thankfully, said outbursts are few and far between.

7. That surprised face people make when you finally do speak

Said strange face is usually followed by a comment stating the obvious: quiet person just spoke. When I was in high school and my first years of college, this happened so many times. My response was always to smile and laugh it off while thinking in my head, “Yes, I do in fact have a perfectly functioning voice. It was nice of you to notice that plainly normal fact.”

8. Making phone calls

Although I'm better about it now, I used to avoid making or taking phone calls like the plague. There's always that fear you'll sit on the phone trying to think of what to say or stumbling over what you want to say. Then, if you're out in public, you always feel like you're disturbing everyone else with your chattering and like other people are listening to what you're saying.

9. “What’s wrong?”

If I had a dime for every time I’ve been asked this question, I could literally pay for school and buy myself a new car. For some reason, it’s assumed that quiet people aren’t happy or upset when out and about because we aren’t talking and apparently have resting b**** face. Fun fact: we’re probably quite content people watching and enjoying whatever it is we’re doing in our own little way. So, please, for the love all that is holy, don't ask if we are okay or we may just pop a blood vessel.

10. “Are you okay?”

Correction: the funds received from each utterance of this question combined with that from number seven could for reals pay my tuition, buy a new car, and buy a lifetime supply of coffee.

11. Feeling like a creeper because you know things about people before they tell you

Yes, we stalk people on social media to learn more about them instead of talking to them because the thought of starting a conversation with someone is terrifying. Thankfully, we’ve taken a lesson or two from dear Mr. Holmes in observing people. That’s how we already kind of know you before you start spilling your life story; we’re just good at reading people.

12. Having to build up the courage to talk to someone

The struggle is oh so real, man. There have been so many times I’ve thought about striking up a conversation with someone for literally thirty minutes. But it never happens. For some reason, all the reasoning in the world couldn’t convince me it was a good idea and that I wouldn’t sound like a blubbering idiot or miserably fail at creating good conversation. Thus it remains, quiet people imagine the awesome conversations we could have if it weren’t for our fears.

13. Being told to participate more in class

If I could change one thing about the way certain classes operate, this would be the first thing to go. Even though I hardly say anything in class, I’m most always paying attention and actively listening. I don’t have to talk to participate or learn and I will gladly take your ridiculous deductions to my participation grade to prove it.

14. Always being the last person picked for teams in gym class

It’s not that we’re bad at sports per say. Nobody ever remembers we’re in class so naturally, we’re always the lone ranger left standing at the end of the lineup.

15. Having an everlasting hatred for group work

Nothing strikes more panic into a quiet person’s being than having to interact with a group of complete strangers. We’d much rather do my our own work than have to explain what we’re doing to a group of people we don’t even want to talk to. In reality, we’ll probably just sit in silence while everybody tries to figure it out or ask for your help.

16. The ever-present sarcastic remark, “You talk too much, quiet down.”

Yes, yes I know. I talk entirely too much, I’ll try to tone it down next time so everybody else can chime in. Something tells me it won’t be too hard.

17. Having people assume you’re so innocent

One of my biggest pet peeves, not just assuming innocence but assuming anything about me, or anyone, in general. At no point in time have I considered myself innocent, even when it was probably true. I think most quiet people could agree with me on this one. You can’t judge a book by its cover. Just because someone is quiet doesn’t necessarily mean they live under a rock.

18. “I don’t know why I never talked to you before. You’re actually pretty cool.”

I just love feeling like people assume I'm essentially braindead because I don't talk. So, thanks?” Hearing people wonder like this always rubs me the wrong way, like people were expecting me to be that mean girl or have no personality. Little do they know....