Is it harder to make friends when you are older?

[froghat]

I first started having anxiety in high school and quit for a semester to get therapy. When I returned I quickly made a friend in computer class and then met another kid through him. We became good friends and stayed friends for 5 years. Things sort of just happened and I had a lot of great experiences because of it. Met lots of people.

I had a relapse 4 years ago and I'm just now starting to get my life together again. I work as a vender for a snack company (deliver and stock at grocery stores), so I see alot of different people everyday. Still, I feel like it's impossible to become friendly with anyone. I make an effort to talk to people, but it feels like no one gives a crap about me. Do you think it's because of my age (27) that scares people away? For instance, at one of the stores there's a college aged girl who I was interested in. I tried to make small talk and stuff, but I never felt she was interested. It's frustrating, I don't know if it's my age or just my anxiety that's scaring people off. I dunno, do people just assume every 27 year old guy is married and has kids or what? I have no doubt that my anxiety gives off a bad impression to alot of people, but even in high school I had people who at least attempted to talk to me. Now it feels like I have no chance. It's a pretty lonely feeling out there. Is anyone here around my age? Do you feel this way? It seemed so much easier meeting people when I was younger. What changed?

 

[kyle123]

im not your age im 19 but i can offer some advice...first off i dont think its your age...nothing is wrong with 27...i feel that people are interested..andyour perceviing them as not beign interested..maybe the person is a dick...dont give up man..be a soldier!!

 

[mimi1988]

I had friends, outside of school, when I was much younger (like 5-8 yrs old). They were friends in the neighborhood, but I never talked to them at school lol. It was hard for me to make friends back then and still is now that I'm 20 1/2. I've had close associates, but never "friends".

 

[Kinetik]

Once I left college it seemed like there were no social opportunities left for me anymore - short of visiting my own relatives and the friends and families of the various girls I dated since then. But that was never appealing to me because it would always be their crowd, and on their terms. I'd like to break free of that and somehow have my own network, but I just don't see it happening. I completely took my youth for granted all throughout school and university. At the time I avoided everyone and prayed for it all to be over, but once it finished I was left feeling really bored and empty. Now I'm feeling like my life's over and I'm only in my mid twenties. It's a strange time alright.

 

[mndigi]

I am in my mid 20s and I went back to university 2 years ago. I was apprehensive how I would fit in with younger people. But I made a conscious effort to appear positive because my therapist had told me to interact with people of my age group (I had to complete my degree and I figured late teens and early-mid 20s aren't that far apart to not be in the same age group). That time I listened to my therapist because I was sick of burning within myself from not listening to my therapists until then. So I made good friends with people 4-6 years younger than me. I think you only have to appear positive and really want something. Don't bother about failure too. This kind of failure doesn't cost you any thing because you are any way not better off. But success might improve your life.

Also you mentioned about talking to girls. That's no no for me right there. I don't handle rejection from the other sex well so I don't talk to girls, unless they talk to me.