I feel like all my friendships are falling apart and it is starting to make me unhappy, defensive and insular.
I am naturally shy but like most adults try to overcome this - especially important for me as I love socialising. In the past I had a full and lively social life. Yet over the last few years me and my family have become increasingly isolated. A lot of former school friends have moved away and those who have stayed behind seem to have found new friendships through their children. I work really hard at trying to keep in touch and arrange get-togethers and nights out. Yet, this is never returned: I only meet people if I arrange it, I never receive invitations back - be it meals at home, theatre trips or nights down the pub. With new people (who I meet through work or my children) I'll invite them round for a meal or out socialising, but it becomes embaressing when they never return this (and then I start to get resentful, and refuse to keep inviting them). Most hurtfully of all, my closest girlfriends and I always go away to London for a weekend once a year - yet now three of them have arranged to go elsewhere together, without including me.
I don't want to confront them about this as, when I've done this in the past, it seems to worsen matters rather than bring them out in the open.
I find this really upsetting. I am starting to think there is something wrong with me and am losing all my former self-confidence. :(