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Belongs to: Can you relate to zach s struggles with anxiety sh
I’m socially awkward all the time an find it hard to make or keep friends. I wish there wasn’t such a stigma against mental health issues.
Hi there. So glad you took the time to post, and put yourself out there. Choosing to be bold and vulnerable especially in a space that while somewhat more anonymous there’s also a lot more chances to get rejected. I applaud that strength. I hope you can recognize that amazing trait in yourself. I hear you and can totally relate. Navigating social challenges especially for those of us that are maybe more introverted, maybe more introspective, maybe just more prone to think about all the many potential things that can go wrong. It sounds like you are already aware of feeling awkward which can then only feed into the uncertainty, the doubt in future attempts. I get that. I think it’s worth noting that for those of us that do spend more time in our heads and being highly aware of our feelings it doubles the complication of just meeting people and juggling what it means to keep friends. So for the friends you do have I see that as a BIG win. One good thing is friends don’t have to just be from school or work but can be found in so many different niche places, doing things that WE like. So then you can connect on mutual loves. Some of my friends came later when I got into communities that share my passion for mental health help. Places like Heartsupport. Even on Twitch I have met friends that are part of the streamers communities. It seems like minded folks that find places they like also share like minds on other traits and so I have found it easier to meet people like myself. And you know what, I’d rather connect with people who like at least some of what I like. It makes it easier to find things to talk about. I’m not forcing myself to be something I’m not. It feels more authentic. It definitely makes life a little less stressful. You mention the stigma around mental health. Oh boy that can be such a huge thing to deal with. Thankfully it is getting better but it’s still not where it needs to be. Mental health is what we all share and it impacts so much of our lives, how we interact with others, how we connect. Heck, it brings us all together. There shouldn’t be any shame in it. It’s just being human. Until we get to that more perfect place there are areas that are better than others. Like in the communities I talked about before, like certain streamers on Twitch and such, there are people that value and treasure what makes us human, those vulnerabilities. When I surround myself with those people, and join mental health support groups I find I can have a better relationship with my own feelings and health which makes me better equipped to deal with others and be sensitive to their struggles. I’m glad you reached out. I’m sure when you find groups that are like yourself you’ll have no problem making friends.