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How can a 21yo woman make new friends

27 replies

SlurpyMcslurpson · 23/11/2025 19:18

My DD21 did not go to uni and all her friends did, so she’s been ‘left behind’

She has no idea where to start making new friends at her age. She has a job but hasn’t met people her age

She doesn’t really have many hobbies. I go to the gym but I don’t have any friends I’ve met there either

I have suggested all sorts but she is shy and I don’t know what to suggest anymore?

OP posts:
SlurpyMcslurpson · 24/11/2025 15:11

No one needs to get so over invested in this they are getting into a rage about it. Go have a cup of tea. Tell me you don’t know anything about crippling social anxiety, right? She has quite severe social anxiety and has always had this since a tiny child. I am her mother. I obviously encourage her to be more confident and try new things. She isn’t refusing to go to things.

She isn’t sporty and has no interest in sports. Sorry if anyone is offended by her not wanting to play netball. She is 4ft11 so that might also be a factor!

She actually has a sensory processing disorder which makes things a bit more tricky for her sometimes in terms of noise and conversations

I do suggest getting a new job I think this is the main solution but she’s ended up losing her confidence to move on to a new job, it’s safe in this one with her work mums.

I think she might also get depressed if she is lonely

She has a job with antisocial hours and shift work, this makes it all worse because often she is working on weekends or when clubs run in the evenings

There is one ‘in person’ book club locally I did not find more of them when I googled it.

She likes animals but due to shift work she hasn’t managed to secure volunteering

She is dog sitting and walking and stuff but that’s not with other humans

She actually applied for a ton of jobs in animal care and got rejected from them all due to ‘lack of experience’ as she works in retail.

She isn’t not trying

I feel sad for her so trying to help

thanks for suggestions

I sent her the gal pal link without checking it, seems it’s for lesbian women?

OP posts:
SlurpyMcslurpson · 24/11/2025 15:15

We live in Essex. I haven’t found much locally in terms of clubs for women or young women.

I go to lots of exercise classes and not made new friends, people are there to work out it seems!

OP posts:
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