hi...I'm new

Hey all,

I've been wondering for some time whether it was just 'me' or what, but finding this forum has been a relief! *phew* Now I know there are other people just like me! I had very strong AvPD just over a year and a half ago--feeling inferior socially, withdrawing socially, being miserable because I wanted friends and could not have them, and mostly because I felt inferior in just about every other way--academically, musically, sportingly and what not, not just socially.

Now, it's better but I still suspect that I have some symptoms. I've just started first year uni and though I have managed to make friends with a small group of people, my mum's been criticising me about how I never go out with them, and 'have fun' while all my other schoolmates are just totally changed people--going out to parties every weekend, knowing every single person in the 200+ strong faculties they're in, and how I never make any attempt to catch up, and am still so tenuously naive and faithful to the one friend I've kept in touch with from school, who, incidentally, also goes to parties every weekend and knows every person in her Architecture faculty, all 140 of them. It's hard for me because all I wanna do is just stay at home and bum around--I'm just not that type of person, and my mum's comments are hurting me.

It's even worse because I suggested to my new group of friends that we meet up in the holidays, and they said yes, which I was very grateful for, but my mum seems to think there's something wrong with me just because the only socialising I do do is in the holidays--July major ones, not Easter or anything like that. I'm just wondering if I just haven't moved on while everyone else has, or if this is AvPD back again?

im afraid i dont have any advice on this, still trying to work if im in this catorgary but just wanted to welcome you and say hi

It doesn't make any difference really whether "AvPD is back again" or not, basically, you got a problem, and you've gotta deal with it.

At least you've made good enough friends that you're actually doing something with them over the break! Imagine what would have happened had you been forced to stay alone. You complain about mum already...

I can't be extremely helpful, because I run into many of the same problems - but "partying" is not everyone's ideal of fun. It certainly isn't mine. I've never understood the point of spending a fortune on beer, in order to do crazy $#%^, and then wake up the next morning, feeling like an idiot, not to mention have being headached. It might not be yours - if this is so - screw it, find your own kind of fun. Of course - easier said than done - I'm still trying to figure out what I like to do, myself, saturday nights all alone.