Hey! I feel the same way. I don't mind speaking to groups of people.
I used to read the epistle at church and that was alright. I just
can't make small talk or hold a conversation. I've been in college
for 2 years and havent made one friend. Currently i have no friends.
never had a girlfriend.

THat's currently what i am struggling with right now. I want a gf,
but dont know how to go about doing so. I was in Target today to look
for a birthday present for a family member, and i seen a few girls i
liked. But, what's it going to look like with some stranger walking
up and saying hi? I feel really awkward going up to a girl because
the only reason is because i want to be with her so to speak. it
feels selfish.

this thinking is severly affecting my schoolwork. knowing I'll be
alone all my life, why strive for a good job? It's not like I'll have
anyone to take of other than myself. And I myself am content with
living a frugal life. So why work my ass off? THere is also counter
thinking that kicks in too. I can still live frugally, but its good
to have more money for health issues... or heck, even donation.

I dont really feel lonely but i force myself to feel that way. It's
just something i believe in. My purpose, my aspiration is being
social. Yet I can't acccomnplish this. And it hurts.

sorry, just had to let that out. I wish i can offer any advice to
help you but we are sorta in a similar boat. Good luck with
everything!
On 4/6/06, binace1 <binace1@...> wrote:
> Hello.
>
> This is my first time as a member of a group like this. I've
> looked at some of the other posts and saw that other people have
> some of the same problems that I do. My situation seems a bit
> different, though. I'm a thirty-year-old PhD scientist with a
> wonderful job and a fantastic salary. I routinely give talks to
> large audiences (> 100 people) without any difficulty whatsoever.
> In fact, I even enjoy this type of activity. On the other hand, if
> someone button-holes me in the hallway for a few minutes of idle
> chit-chat, my heart starts racing, beads of sweat pop out on my
> forehead, and I have no idea what to say. I find it almost
> impossible to maintain eye contact for longer than a few seconds and
> these conversations often end in awkward silences. Afterwards, I
> replay the scene continuously in my mind, trying to think of how I
> could have responded at different junctures in the conversation. I
> imagine my co-workers find me to be an aloof prick, but that's
> probably not accurate at all. What the hell is my problem?
> I don't have any friends, but that doesn't really bother me.
> I'm most comfortable and happy when I'm by myself. I wouldn't in
> any way characterize myself as lonely. Unfortunately, the world we
> occupy demands some socialization and I seem to be incapable of any
> normal casual interpersonal interaction. It's been liberating just
> to write this and I'm wondering if anyone else is in a similar
> situation to mine.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> SPONSORED LINKS
> Health and wellness Social anxiety Health wellness product
> Health and wellness program Diet fitness health nutrition wellness Health
> promotion and wellness
>
> ________________________________
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
>
> Visit your group "SocialFitnessForum" on the web.
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> SocialFitnessForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>
> ________________________________
>