This is the first time I have posted on a forum so please forgive me if I make a mistake. My daughter is so shy and really struggles with making friends and having conversations with people, not just her peers at school but also family members that she doesn't see regularly, her teachers, doctors etc. This situation has been going on for many years, probably since year 3 at primary school. I'm starting to think it's more than just shyness and I don't know what to do to help her. When she knows someone well she has no problems with communicating. She had a really hard time starting at secondary school last year and didn't make any friends for weeks. Then finally she made a friend and everything seemed to settle down. Ever since going back to school her friend has joined with others to form a big group, so now she feels that no one listens to her. Yesterday she came home and told me that she asked the group to wait for her after they had eaten lunch but they didn't they went off and left her. She got really upset and sat by herself for the rest of lunch, they came back over to her to find out what was wrong but she wouldn't tell them. Then this morning her original friend texted her and asked if she was okay again. I advised my daughter that she should explain to her friend how she felt yesterday because she may not realise how she upset her. She refused to do this because it would be awkward to have that conversation. I have tried to send her to after school activities but it was the same in those situations as well, she just could not make friends. We have been referred to CAMHS and she has been sent to an anxiety group but she refused to do the work that was needed. She is also on the waiting list for an autism assessment. If she won't follow my advice then what more can I do, any ideas?