Why am I so shy around big crowds, but when I'm with one friend than I'm fine?

Some people appear shy around big crowds, and appear fine with one friend. You may be one of those people. Do you think there is something questionable about that kind of personality? If you could change a part about that in yourself, would you, and how would you change it? Shyness is a form of fear; in other words, you may feel unsafe in large crowds emotionally or otherwise, in which case your brain tries to protect you by raising these emotional signals that cause you to be uncomfortable - and that's natural! You're the only one who can tell yourself why you do something and how you feel about it, and you're the only one who can really tell you whether that's okay for you or not. If not, you have the power to create new patterns to live by.

It is about who you feel comfortable with. It feels natural to be with your friend rather than being in front of a large crowd. So you're okay being in that situation but are shy when there are more people around.

You may have a social anxiety (fear of large crowds). With one friend, you only have to concentrate on that friend. In large crowds, you don't know who is watching your movements or paying attention to what you say. You might try conquering that fear by having one friend stick by you while you are in large crowds. They can be supportive and reassuring.

It could be the case that you are more introverted than you are extroverted - more inclined to feel comfortable in situations that do not involve many people. The good news is, introversion is not a disease or disorder - it's simply a personality trait. The not so good news is that in western cultures, such as US culture, introversion tends not to be as highly regarded as extroversion. But, this in no way should suggest that being more introverted is "wrong" - it is simply a different way of being, and if one is more comfortable, less shy, spending time in smaller groups or with one person at a time, so be it, I say. The introverted among us have lots to offer - in some ways, even more so than the extroverted.

A very probable reason could be that you're an introvert. An introvert draws energy from within as opposed to an extrovert which draws energy from the environment. Big crowds tend to draw a huge amount of energy from an introvert, which therefore could be a reason why you tend to avoid them and be shy around them. On the other hand, a single friend isn't as energy-draining, plus he/she is someone more familiar to the introvert, therefore the outcome would be much more positively inclined.

Perhaps you feel comforted and safe when you know your friend is with you? Or maybe you assume that they'll help start up conversations with people that you don't know? There is also the possibility that you feel less shy because you have your friend to focus your attention on instead of focusing on the big crowds.

It's absolutely normal to feel that way! Generally, being shy in crowded places is linked with the fear of the unknown. Being with a friend gives you a slight boost of confidence in knowing you're not "thrown off the deep end" without anything or anyone to comfort and encourage you as you handle being in a stressful situation.

Because you usually have trust, sense of friendship and loyalty in that person. Whereas a crowd of strangers could be overwhelming and could make you feel anxious

A lot of people are intimidated by large crowds, whether it's a social situation like a big party or just a lot of people in one place, like the grocery store at peak shopping time. It's not abnormal to feel this way or prefer one-on-one conversations, but if you feel it's getting in the way of living your life a therapist could work with you on getting more comfortable in busy areas.

I personally can relate to this. I think it is because people tend to feel more comfortable around people that they know, and can feel more insecure and unsure around larger crowds.