A relief to know that I’m not alone

I recently stumbled across this forum and all of the problems that I struggle with every day so many of you seem to have too. It’s quite a relief to know that I’m not alone and that it is a recognised condition with treatments. I have always tried to just get by each day but there seem quite a few options to help.

I absolutely cannot make close friends. I can only get as far as acquaintances and no further so I’m always very lonely. I’ve moved 5 times in the last year and a half to start again hoping ‘this time it will be different’ but I create the same situation every time. The loneliness is affecting me very badly, and often I resort to cutting myself to cope with it.

In social situations I worry I will say something stupid and people will laugh or that they don’t like me. Even a question like “how was your weekend” often makes me blush and uncomfortable since someone is asking about my personal life. Towards the end of school I just came in for lessons and went straight home gain talking to nobody. I’m terribly closed and private which gives the impression I am a cold person. Even waiting for someone in a public place, being in a shop and dealing with a shop assistant, or paying for something makes me very anxious and worried.

Time to do some reading on here...

Hello. Would you like to be my friend? My screen name for aol instant messenger is Antarctica77. My e-mail address is [email protected] We seem so similar and why should we have to suffer alone?

I am also private, blush when someone asks how my weekend was, feel really nervous paying for things or in waiting rooms. And I can't seem to make close friends.

I wish we didn't have to feel so afraid to live.