Keep refusing!!! Need help!!

[GiddyHam]

I am happy not to attend parties, dinners, coffee dates or infact any meet ups whatsoever. I feel badgered by friends, acquaintances, neighbours who can't seem to take no for an answer. Please help me with the right words rather than my never ending lame excuses of busy, ill etc.... I'm at a loss!

Respond "I'm a hermit and happy in my shell? Do one!" :)

I'd love to but my constant flatulence means I keep to myself. I'm sure you understand.

Try to make the effort sometimes or you may come to regret it. I think it's important to make time for people.

I really recommend a book called “The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k”. It’s basically a guide to stop people pleasing but in a way that doesn’t offend anyone.

'I'm in hibernation mode for the autumn and winter so won't be attending any functions for the forseeable.'

You will stop getting invites simply by not attending anything. Do you ever initiate a meet up?

Don't lose your friends - they're so important.

Don't lose your friends, you will definitely regret it. Why not set some parameters - like you only do a couple of different things a week. Then you can say 'I can't do lunch that week but I can do....'.

I mean in a kind way, how do you hope to keep friends if you don't want to go and do anything?

It would be sad to lose them through not wanting to see them! Especially if you do value the friendship, perhaps you can compromise occasionally and so can they?

I absolutely echo this and I'm saying it as an introvert. No woman is an island, as the saying goes, and if you don't put the time in to maintain and strengthen the bonds of friendship, people may not be there for you when your life suddenly goes sideways and you really need help. And that's a really lonely place to be.

I am quite honest with people and say "I find group meetups really draining, it's just the way my brain and introverted personality work, but would you like to get coffee/go to that new show/film/ come over to mine for a bite to eat soon?"