Texas,

Well, I don't have a social life, either. But we both have DS. Not a pub, not a club, not a party, but at least there are friends willing to talk. Not that bad.

It's all the the same right!

Your not alone :) Nice people here.

Yep im with ya sista!!!

HUGS
dee

Given the way society is now, with so much social networking as a part of life (FB & Twitter) at this point I'd say it totally counts as socializing!

Thank God for the internet becuase I get terrible social anxiety and am not good at meeting new people.

i feel the same way. is it bad? i don't know??? it's probably not good.

i think DS counts as socializing.

I have great social skills when I'm drunk sometimes I miss those day's!

Texas~~

There is absolutely nothing bad about hanging at the cool BP table on a Friday night. :)

(BTW .... I just got back from my first trip to Texas. Stayed in Austin. It was sunny and in the 70s the whole time. Yee haw!)

Uh yes lol!

I don't know if this is better or worse, but I don't even WANT to have a social life!!!
Friends try to pry me out of my house -- to no avail!!!
I get out when I have to and that's it!
I enjoy talking to people well enough when I'm out in public. But I'm just as happy sitting here at home 'talking' to other beepers!!
Happier, probably. I definitely suffer less anxiety when I'm home alone and am better able to concentrate.
Yes, TexasMade!!! It probably isn't as 'healthy' as a 'real' social life!
And if a 'real' one is what you want, I hope you manage to find one!!!
But as for me, well, I'm just as happy sitting here 'talking' to TexasMade!!!! (((((Hugs)))))
I'm sorry that you have no social life since you want to

Carlabent I love you girl and you know why I'm happy talking to you too!
((Bigger Hugssss))

I sure hope this counts as a social life, otherwise I've got nothing. Been here over a week now and this is the most socializing I have done in forever. I have social skills in that I know how to act appropriately in a social situation but I'm sort of an introvert which doesn't help much. Social anxiety can get the better of me.
My goal is to become better more comfortable in social situations. I don't need to be the life of the party like my husband I just want people to be aware that I'm there.

But for now I'm perfectly fine pulling a chair up to the DS table and jhanging out with friends here.

No its not the same. Yes it is an outlet. Yes you can build relationships here. However it is not the same as going out, and being physically close to a friends. (you know what I mean so stopping thinking dirty!)

I participate in a lot of online things that have a social aspect. In some ways they help in real down times, but they also provide an excuse to NOT go out and build full fledged relationships with real people. (not that no one here is not real)

Online friendships are shadows of what a full blown relationship and friend should should be. Going online to vent is not the same as looking in friend's eyes when you are crying. Spending the night on a board is not the same as going out to eat with friends. There is a level of reality that just does not exist in online friendships, and I need that reality.

Well DS has been my social outlet for a long time. I don't have very many friends and I have anxiety all the time. I was invited to see some of my friends that are in a local band. All my friends were going and I cancelled because I am tired and don't feel like going out tonight. I have a lot of anxiety from job hunting.

I wouldn't say it's 'bad'. Sometimes it's hard to maintain relationships offline. We have to face people which can be hard and at times you may feel you can't just be yourself with people. Online, particularly on sites like Dailystrength, you don't need to hide away. You can be open and honest and people wont judge you.

Having a social life on the outside of the online world is a good thing too but it will come in time. Often when your not really expecting it. I think you've got to be in a good place emotionally before you can start up new relationships with people. Try and be patient and see what comes your way.