Anxiety and insecurity with friendships.......tips welcome please

[feathermucker]

On medication and awaiting counselling.

Finding I'm bevoming more insecure about friendships, thinking people are off with me, worrying about how people meet up and I'm not there.

Have you had this? I'm trying to use distraction and keep busy, but it's hard.

Thank you for reading

Same here. Not just friendships but work too. My boss is reassuring me multiple times a day that he isnt mad at me. I don't have an answer for you but it's hard.

I have this too. I’m currently feeling very lonely as a result.

It's horrible, isn't it?

I'm researching it on the internet and trying to find articles etc that rationalise this feeling and explain it.

Also looking into natural vitamins etc and diet to help my anxiety.

I too feel very lonely and have started to isolate myself, but am pushing myself to go out tonight.

People might say cut off friends who don't make you happy etc, but it's my perception of them that's skewed, not necessarily them.

Do you worry more generally what people think of you/feel self conscious when out and about/ruminate on social situations afterwards? If so it might be a bit of social anxiety hun. Counselling will help but maybe check out some self help stuff in the mean time x

I do it all the time tbh, but I definitely know I have social anxiety.

I need to try some self help stuff and stick at it long term.

Yes I do/ have done this. I think, for me, it stems from wanting to be liked being a people pleaser. In all honesty I did have some 'friends' who were pretty bitchy at one point too which exasperated the feelings. The other thing that doesn't help with this is alcohol. I don't know if your having a drink when you go out with them? I found that I would have a drink to help my social anxiety but the next day I would be agonising about whether I had done/ said anything to offend anyone. Since I stopped drinking it's got a lot better but also my friendship group has changed. What I'm trying to say is that yes It might be the way you think about things but could it be possible that some of your friends aren't that nice or just not got much in common with you?

Hello! I am exactly the same. I have borderline personality disorder, and one of my biggest challenges within it, is the inability to maintain friendships. I’m severely socially anxious to the point that I overthink every conversation and interaction and infer that people are mad/annoyed with me and hate me. On the back of this, I also isolate myself, mainly because I just cannot cope with the stress. It’s really draining. My wonderful partner tries to reassure me about it, but it never seems to work.