Making friends

[PC7102]

Does anyone else finding making friends impossible? It makes me really sad sometimes.

I am 31 with a 15 month old baby. I have no mum friends and a few friends who are more like acquaintances rather than close friends. I chat with people at work but never seem to ever get close to anyone or be the person that people want to talk to or would chose over everyone else.

I really struggle to make conversations with people I don’t know, I’m shy and have a bit of social anxiety. But I do try to push myself out of my comfort zone.

I go to different classes where I try to make conversation with people but it never seems to go far. I’ve been to my dance class today, everyone there has been going for years and they all chat but no one ever makes the effort to start a conversation with me or include me so I end up standing alone like a weirdo. Forced myself to make conversation with two people today but then they didn’t talk to me after. Always feel rubbish after this. Should I just stop going?

Has anyone had any joy with learning how to make friends as an adult who was shy before?

I find it hard too.
Have you gone to any mother and baby groups?

I was just going to ask the same what. I made a few when my DC we're smaller through groups. If you volunteer to do things like help out at playgroup that usually helps as well.

I know it's an old book but have you ever read How to Win Friends and Influence People? It's great if you have social anxiety as it might give you more of a plan of how to talk to people

Don't be discouraged by lack of replies on this thread. I don't think 'other subjects' on mumsnet gets much traffic. If you search you will find many threads about people finding it hard to make friends. You are not alone! X

That's true what, it is quite quiet in here.

If you want some more replies @PC7102 you could ask MNHQ to move this over to the _chat section. It's a bit more lively in there

I'm a introvert. I have a few good friends but would like more. I was hoping I would make friends when dd started reception and put myself out there, became the class rep. But people seemed to already know each other. I cant walk over to a group who are already chatting, I'm too shy. Then covid hit.

I put a post out on Fb today asking how to make friends. Only two replies and I feel like a total tit now. I was holding in tears most of the day. I just want to make one friend at the school gates but it's a tough place to make them for a introvert.

I'm going to ask someone if they want to go for coffee on my sewing group. Be direct I think