social_misfit
Member
I stumbled on this site while searching for info on social anxiety. I've been a sufferer for several decades now, and just discovered via the many online sites devoted to the subject that I'm not alone. Most people my age have families and lives of their own, but I'm still "treading water". I'm terrified to even go to the corner store or take out the garbage... things most people have no trouble doing.
I finally got the nerve to tell my mother and stepfather what my problem is. They've always struggled trying to figure out what was wrong with me (as I've tried to do myself). They are two of the most "super" social and aggresive people I've ever known... a pair of highly confident go-getters with a ridiculously busy social life (which adds to my lack of confidence in myself).
They have responded to my revelation about my condition with practically NO empathy whatsoever. My mother actually yawns whenever I'm in her presence, and sits waiting for me to say something to her, even after I spent 20 minutes telling her my diffucties in carrying on conversations, and my stepfather is a chain smoking nightmare of a man who patrols this cramped apartment we share like a prison guard. Instead of extending a comforting hand of friendship and understanding to me, he repeatedly commences to slam doors and act like a bully (psychologically, not physically). I swear, he's the most aggresive SOB I've ever seen, and he really makes me nervous whenever he's around. I might as well be living with two total strangers!
I plan to go to my first therapy session in ten years to try to unravel my SP problems soon (a huge undertaking for me to be sure), but I am so nervous and alone right now... I need someone to talk to who REALLY cares. I figure this forum is as good a start as any to try.
PLEASE... someone help me to understand why the people you're supposed to be the closest to are the most difficult to communicate with. I have no friends, never had a girlfriend, and the few times when girls have expressed an interest in me I've been too afraid and/or socially inept to respond.
It's late and stepdaddy-dearest is due to come back from his job soon, so I'm going to post this and leave until tomorrow about this time. I hope some of you nice people here will read this and give me some hope. Thanks.
I finally got the nerve to tell my mother and stepfather what my problem is. They've always struggled trying to figure out what was wrong with me (as I've tried to do myself). They are two of the most "super" social and aggresive people I've ever known... a pair of highly confident go-getters with a ridiculously busy social life (which adds to my lack of confidence in myself).
They have responded to my revelation about my condition with practically NO empathy whatsoever. My mother actually yawns whenever I'm in her presence, and sits waiting for me to say something to her, even after I spent 20 minutes telling her my diffucties in carrying on conversations, and my stepfather is a chain smoking nightmare of a man who patrols this cramped apartment we share like a prison guard. Instead of extending a comforting hand of friendship and understanding to me, he repeatedly commences to slam doors and act like a bully (psychologically, not physically). I swear, he's the most aggresive SOB I've ever seen, and he really makes me nervous whenever he's around. I might as well be living with two total strangers!
I plan to go to my first therapy session in ten years to try to unravel my SP problems soon (a huge undertaking for me to be sure), but I am so nervous and alone right now... I need someone to talk to who REALLY cares. I figure this forum is as good a start as any to try.
PLEASE... someone help me to understand why the people you're supposed to be the closest to are the most difficult to communicate with. I have no friends, never had a girlfriend, and the few times when girls have expressed an interest in me I've been too afraid and/or socially inept to respond.
It's late and stepdaddy-dearest is due to come back from his job soon, so I'm going to post this and leave until tomorrow about this time. I hope some of you nice people here will read this and give me some hope. Thanks.