I’m 18F and I used to be a fairly good socializer. A while ago I went through a rough period and ended up isolating myself for quite some time. At first it felt like the best way to deal with everything, but over time things only got worse.
Now it feels like I’ve completely lost my ability to talk to new people. Every interaction turns into overthinking: What should I say? How should I reply? Will this make things awkward? Even starting a simple conversation feels stressful.
I’ve tried talking to people online through places like Discord, but I still struggle to connect with others and often don’t have the confidence to start conversations. I’d say I’m a decent looking person, but sometimes I catch myself thinking that maybe people only want to talk to “perfect” or extremely attractive people, and that thought makes it even harder to approach others(also i don't know where to approach) i js get awkward everywhere.
At the same time, I’m not the type of person who would talk to just anyone. I have my own morals and boundaries, and if someone says something that goes completely against them, I usually cut the convo off. But that sometimes makes me question myself, am I just not good enough for the kind of people I want around me?
I’m doing better mentally now and slowly healing, but the loneliness still feels heavy sometimes. I’ll be joining college soon, and it makes me wonder why having a normal social life suddenly feels so difficult for me.
Has anyone else experienced this after isolating themselves for a long time? How did you rebuild your confidence and social skills?