Despite social anxiety, do you still crave social interaction?

[phil91]

Sort of but not really at the same time the internet works somewhat good for me because I can keep people at a distance but choose to participate when I want.

This is what I used to do. I always got my interaction from the internet, which eliminated the need for me to go outside and talk to people. When I went to uni I decided I didn't want to stay inside my room and be a recluse, so I stopped myself talking to people over the internet (or kept it to the minimum) so I had to leave my room and socialise face to face. And it actually worked.

 

[DownInAHole]

I feel exactly the same way. I used to make friends very easily, enjoyed life, care-free, etc. Then once by flushing started it changed me into a different person. oh well...you can only wonder what could have been.

 

[lyricalliaisons]

I don't crave social interaction, but I do get lonely. It's hard to explain. I wouldn't mind having one friend who wanted to talk & to go places that aren't scary for me, that would be great, in fact, but I wouldn't want a bunch of "friends" & to be forced to be social all the time. That would be terrible. It would be nice to have someone to hang out with, though.

 

[shore_of_glass]

I crave it, but not with people that look all the same, you know what I mean? but, althought I think that way, I sometimes look at the masses and feel jealous. Maybe I'm being a stuck up ******* I dunno....

weird ****, messes with my head everytime...

 

[w*n*c*a*m]

Yes, I like to socialize. But I'm not really the type who craves for it. I am more of a loner. What just pressures me
to socialize sometimes when I don't really feel so, is when
I'm in a crowd or in the office. If I won't talk they will
say that I'm a snob, that I'm so quiet, so odd... etc.
But if I will be given the choice. I'm contented with this.
I love my time alone with myself but I also like some attention
and some chat with friends when I feel like to. But I guess,
that's a very selfish habit. Because I also have to adjust with others. Well, I'm actually trying but sometimes I get so tired pretending that I'm friendly. So like today, I don't damn care if i have to stick on my cubicle for hours just typing. I don't feel like talking now. But don't get me wrong, I'm not really friendly but I'm nice. Yeah!

 

[Psychedelicious]

Itchiness

Hmm, well sort of. It's not a constant feeling, but it does seem to come up now and again every few days. I sure wouldn't say that I can't stand not being around people. There's times where I can't stand being around anyone, and wish no one was here. But then after awhile it does get tiring, and you just need someone to annoy etc. And I can see that when there is the feeling of craving some sort of social interaction, how atleast some people, can't do anything about it.

 

[Untamed88]

I was watching The Hills the other day and the girl on there has all these friends and confidence and I was wishing I could have that.

 

[Horatio]

It's changed a lot for me. I used to crave social interaction when I was younger, despite the social anxiety. But now not nearly as much. The only thing I really crave is companionship in the form of someone special to share my life with. I'm kind of over group social dynamics.

 

[SonicMan]

I most certainly do. Despite having that horrible feeling inside me when I have to meet someone new, or the panicky feeling when the inevitable awkward silence comes, or that draining "why bother?" feeling when in a large group of people, I can't stand not being around other people. That's why I hate having SA so much. I'm an extrovert at heart, but this disorder just stops me from being who I want to be. I want to be the guy that everyone wants to be around because he's so fun, the guy that will say "right, i'm going out tonight" and everyone will want to go just because he is, the guy that can become friends with anyone, the guy who can start up a conversation about anything and keep it going for hours.

Yeah, it's unrealistic I'll ever be that person. But you know what? I'd actually be happy just being someone that can say something without having "does that sound right?", "i might sound stupid", "i will blush", "what if i offend someone?" "what if they don't get the joke?" running through my head.

Wow. It is almost like you read my mind, lol.

 

[9407]

Yes. But I have other issues other than SA as to why I have no friends. (trust issues, getting annoyed taking things too personally)

 

[Forgotten-Children]

Well at some times ofcourse. I mean I would have loved to actually have friends to hang out with sometimes. Yet at other times I sometimes question if it's really worth having friends like if they really need me or if I need them.

Whenever I'm in my "emo moods", I always feel like a whiney little b*tch because I feel like I use my internet buds as a shoulder to cry on; Like I'm a burden to them...

Having real life friends in that case, would just make me feel worse and would probably drive them away because I can become depressed in a heart beat so I'm not really a fun person to be around...

I guess I would like to be able to experience hanging out and going to parties with friends but don't want to burden them with my problems.. So... It's safe too say, I'd probably be better off without friends so my depression won't spread around like a disease...

 

[punklove]

At times I do yes but I can go for about two months without it and be fine.