I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time . It's hard to find and keep friends when you suffer from anxiety I know my anxiety keeps me home a lot so it's not like I can just go out with friends for drinks or to parties etc..... so I feel ya I hope you get feeling better until then you have friends here :)

Maybe you could do what you did to get the jock friend you already have to get more friends? Easier said then done though. I kind of feel the same way, I'll meet someone who gets me friend or partner but then I'll lose them and feel like I only have me, even though I have other friends but that's when my anxiety disorders kick in.

I find that work is the easiest place to make friends well unless you're the boss? Are you still in school?

I find it difficult to make true friends. I associate and relate and socialize no problem. But since I moved half way across the country two years ago to be closer to family I still have no friends. The friends I left behind have their own lives we hardly talk.

You are lucky that at least you have family support. I lack that as well and feel very lonely.

Romantic relationships are difficult too for me

I think that if you have an awesome family I think you will find a good match no problem. It will take time but one will come along.

As far as friends, college was the easiest place for me to find friends but staying in touch is tricky. I got lucky finding ones that were similar to me in their thoughts. But I certainly had to accept their differences. Sometimes you can only relate on 1 or 2 things but the best friendships I've had are those that could relate to hardship and things I've been through.

I think you'll be ok. I often feel like an alien.

First, practice being your best friend. Look at activities you enjoy doing, and check out local groups. Take time to appreciate your self every single day!

Best wishes.

When I was younger, I felt very much the same way. What helped was reaching out beyond my little circle. I found that I did great with people that were considerably older. And I started finding geeky groups to relate to - going to the comic book store or to gatherings where they played role playing games.

Please don't give up. You are at an age where life can be really lonely. But you WILL find people.

When you have the energy, consider taking a class you really love - something that really interests you. You're likely to run into potential friends there.

It could be that you're just more mature than others your age - so you're not into what they're into. It's okay, though. You will find your tribe!

I have many acquaintances but no friends. Not "real" friends anyway. And its mostly my fault. When you have friends, they expect you to call them all the time and hang out and go do stuff. Yuck. I'd rather hang out by myself.

I do think I miss out on having a support system though. It would be great to have somebody to talk to and share problems with and my social anxiety definitely makes that a challenge. Plus I have five kids and that makes it an even bigger challenge to meet new people. I am considering doing some volunteer work as a way to get out and meet people and do some good out in the world.

I wish there was an anxiety network where people could sign up in the town they are in and all meet up once a month and everybody could sit there with all the other awkward people and nobody would feel bad during the silences or when we blurt out something awkward because we are ALL feeling awkward and anxious. But most people with anxiety are too shy to start up a group like that, so that is probably why there hasn't been one started yet...lol

I remember when you first came here, you were quite abrasive and seemed a bit judgmental of others, who was a slag, or easy, or whatever.

I find that people who are judgmental tend to not have friends. Nobody wants to hang out with someone who doesn't think they're okay. It's just that simple. And you also have to learn the law of the marketplace: what you can get is what you are worth.

Don't be too quick to write people off. You might've been raised quite strict, and think that wearing this or doing that is slaggy or whatever; but that's a cultural difference. That's not necessarily true, and they probably don't look at things that way from where they sit. Try to see the world from where they sit, and see what you see.

I'm not saying this to bring you down, but to maybe give you someplace to look in terms of making more friends.

You have to be easy going. You have to take people as you find them, and also always be humble: I had to learn to do this: to bite my tongue. I wasn't being up myself, but some people were thinking I was. So I had to be quiet for about a year. people are insecure. The younger they are, the more insecure. You have to make allowances for that insecurity by being constantly encouraging and good natured no matter what you privately think.

I think being quiet for about a year, nodding, grinning, and agreeing is a good start. Also inside yourself always seeing the best in them, no matter what, whenever you can manage it. Always taking them the best possible way, no matter what.

It works. It can be hard yakker to start with because it goes against all the more selfish instincts which we all have. But it's really good training, and it makes people feel safe around you.

make sense?