cutefluffykitten said:
When i was clingy and needy people avoided me, not becuase of who i was but how i came across.
Try being more laid back with your approach to people when making or keeping friends.
That's good advice. I've made that mistake many many times, and I'm finally starting to change that.
You have to think about what a person wants when you try to start a friendship with them. It's a tough fact, but in the beginning they want
hassle-free, emotionally-easy, feel-good fun. And that's not a bad thing; they're not "bad" or "dumb" people for choosing to have an easy, pleasant time rather than an emotionally-intense time. Then later, if the friendship develops, you slowly earn the right to call on them for more emotionally-intense moments. You slowly earn the right to cry on their shoulder once in a while. You slowly earn the right to expect more of their attention and support; to become their priority. But you must earn it with comfortable, hassle-free friendship first.
Your first few interactions with a new person must exhibit the following promise:
"I will make you feel relaxed and comfortable. I will not put you under any pressure to respond to me, because we're still strangers and I know I have not yet earned priority. I will not admit having intense feelings for you while you still consider me a stranger, because I know that will make you uncomfortable."
Trouble is, people like us find it very hard to do that. We are inclined to lay heavy emotions on someone as soon as we meet them. We're screaming out for someone to understand us and pay attention to us. We often have quite poor social skills, and not enough understanding of "fun". But you must resist the urge to be emotionally intense!
If you come on too emotionally-strong, too fast, you send the message:
"I'm hardly ever going to make you feel relaxed or comfortable. I'll demand priority when you still consider me a stranger, and I'll moan when I don't get it. I will blame you for upsetting me frequently, and presume that I have earned the emotional attachment of a lover or life-long friend, even though we are still relative strangers."
Honestly, that's not inviting. Good friendships can't start with that. Even among two people with social anxiety. I'll admit that two people with SA can understand and support each other, but still.