I spent the first part of my life as a teacher and a mental health counselor. Later I was a retail store owner. I owned a chain of stores in fact. My social life was the stuff of legend.
But that was then and somewhere between then and now I changed. I now prefer the solitude, security and silence (mental) of my home to any social adventure. I like my own company and the peace I feel alone.
I still have close friends, but they know they’re likely not to see me more than a few times a year, nor hear from me by phone more than monthly. I am grateful for email and for the ability to earn my living at home. I don’t hate people. I’m not a complete misanthrope, but they do make me uncomfortable and I’d rather be alone.
It seems I’m not the only one. I’ve actually found dozens of people who share my preferences; in fact, I believe in this overly complicated, insane world, there is an ever growing movement of people who, for one reason or another have adopted a reclusive, or semi-reclusive life style.
This Web Site is for all of us.
I NEED HELP WITH MY SOCIAL ANXIETY I’M 20 YEARS OLD I DON’T HAVE ANY FRIENDS I’M VERY SELF CONSCIOUS IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS IF I GO OUT I WOULDN’T I WILL STAY IN MY HOME AND WISH I HAVE SOMETHIMG TO DO BUT I CAN’T SO I NEED HELP AND THIS REALLY GOT TO ME WHEN I WAS 19 YEARS OF AGE I STARTED GETTING NERVOUS AROUND PEOPLE IT GOT WORSE WHWN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME I DIDN’T GOING TO SCHOOL I DIDN’T WANT TO GET ME A JOB I JUST DIDN’T WANT TO DO THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO CAUSE I KNOW I WILL EMBARRASS MYSELF BUT I HAVE SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER
It sounds like it’ll do little good to assure you that you are not alone. In fact nearly everyone suffers from SA to a degree. The only socially confident people in the world are people who haven’t admitted they aren’t – what I’m saying is that all of us focus our lights on ourselves, think that everyone is watching us, that everyone knows when we say,or do something inappropriate, but the truth is they don’t. They’re all too busy worrying about themselves to put a magnifying lens on you. Only you are doing that.
That said, it seems like you’ve reached a point where you need to seek professional help. Google for mental health counseling in your town or city. There are bound to be places where you can find help for free, or at a reduced cost. Please make the effort to do so.
There are often therapy groups for SA sufferers. It’s amazing how dramatically the synergy of a group can help you. Please make getting help a priority.
In the meanwhile, remember the words of Bill Murry in that movie “Meatballs”, whenever you find yourself in a social situation in which you feel afraid of embarrassing yourself: “It just doesn’t matter”…and the words of a certain Nazarene capenter’s son: “This too shall pass.”
Really Taurean, it will be alright. Just take positive action.