My social anxiety has crippled me all my life. It started with those awful teachers who I hate who had nothing better to say to me other than "she is so shy and quiet." My whole identity throughout school was built on this label. Year after year, "she is so shy." I even received an award for being the "most quietest," in drill team during high school.  I went home, ripped it up and cried. No award for being the one with the best personality or the nicest smile. But it didn't stop there. I struggled in college to make friends. I was so alone and didn't feel like i would ever be accepted anywhere. I was not known by anyone. No one asked me to the prom, I had no social network of friends.  When I was in high school, I was so shy, I dated the first guy who asked me out, who happened to be 28 and divorced when I attended a community college in 12th grade.  Little did I know when I was 17 that that was statuatory rape. This so called boyfriend of mine tried to make me give him oral sex and I almost threw up. I didn't even know that existed at the time. I wanted to have friends and be "normal," so I moved into the dorms hoping to meet people my own age. Never happened. I was too shy and afraid and stuck with this same "toxic" boyfriend. My story goes on and on to include awful ways that I met men that I will not share because of desperation and embarrassment. Today, I am married to a very emotionless man .. and in a bad relationship.. no shock there. Today, I still have major social anxiety. Just to leave my garage to say "hi" to the neighbor takes effort for me.