Friends

My view on the situation as I am like yourself, I used to have friends as a child or teenager. But as soon as I went into the world of work and started my adult life, you soon start to realise that no one wants to know you.  I fought against it for many years and ended in disappointment for myself.  This caused me to melt down every single time then I took a year away from work and decided to look after myself. Then I realised I am not very sociable but I love typing on groups like NAS. 

I eventually found out in my year away from work, that I actually enjoyed my own company, and did not like to communicate with anyone, this is in regards to family members, my partner or even my son.  I find it interesting how I have managed to hold down a job in a contact centre when I don't enjoy communicating.

Be proud of who you are and the right friends will find you in time, if not then you always got us on NAS. I come on here now and again, I don't do social media as I don't like the idea of being watched.

Other than the odd scammer, people on here seem really nice, we all suffer bad days, every now and again but hey, we all have those.

In respect of your friends, like others say it will be tough. But friends wouldn't do that. Stay strong and keep smiling :)

My view on the situation as I am like yourself, I used to have friends as a child or teenager. But as soon as I went into the world of work and started my adult life, you soon start to realise that no one wants to know you.  I fought against it for many years and ended in disappointment for myself.  This caused me to melt down every single time then I took a year away from work and decided to look after myself. Then I realised I am not very sociable but I love typing on groups like NAS. 

I eventually found out in my year away from work, that I actually enjoyed my own company, and did not like to communicate with anyone, this is in regards to family members, my partner or even my son.  I find it interesting how I have managed to hold down a job in a contact centre when I don't enjoy communicating.

Be proud of who you are and the right friends will find you in time, if not then you always got us on NAS. I come on here now and again, I don't do social media as I don't like the idea of being watched.

Other than the odd scammer, people on here seem really nice, we all suffer bad days, every now and again but hey, we all have those.

In respect of your friends, like others say it will be tough. But friends wouldn't do that. Stay strong and keep smiling :)

alex__ said:

I eventually found out in my year away from work, that I actually enjoyed my own company,

Can relate to that. I don't do the social thing at all (I won't "check-in" with people to see how they are or ask about their lives). I'm quite happy to run into people at events but that's as far as it goes.

For a long, long time I used to berate myself for not having any close friends (I have one now, but she gets me, so there's a healthy distance), then I finally realised in general I'm much more comfortable with acquaintances. No-one can understand why I'm perfectly happy spending Christmas on my own, with a pile of good books, some unwatched films and an affectionate cat.

The odd thing is I enjoy coaching people, or doing presentations (small audiences, face to face with large ones is terrifying) because the boundaries are set and I've got "rules" to work to. Social situations though are just constant anxiety, even if its with people I'm comfortable working with. The last meal I attended with folk from work - few years ago now - I'm conscious I was "off" all through the evening because I was struggling with the social dynamics and couldn't relax. Never again. 

alex__ said:

I find it interesting how I have managed to hold down a job in a contact centre when I don't enjoy communicating.

Exactly - you were surviving in a non-ideal place of work - massive stress!

It's what I keep saying - find your niche and pursue it - but also understanding that your life may not turn out to be the standard "married with 2 kids & mortgage" - find your happiness.