I’ve always been moderately socially isolated, undiagnosed autism in public school will do that to you, but I at the very least had the ability to start up conversations and meet new people.
I was a teenager during the pandemic and my parents were hypochondriacs. I was homeschooled on top of that because of the pandemic , so I practically didn’t leave the house for two years, and didn’t meet anyone new (wasnt allowed to go to events where I could)
Now it’s gotten so much worse. I can’t even hold a single conversation because my brain just doesn’t generate a response to what they say. I’ll end up being really quiet, or worse I’ll be TOO much to try and overcompensate and they’ll think I’m weird or I’ll cross a social boundary that I didn’t understand because I didn’t pick up on their social cues.
This is mostly just a vent but also does anyone have any tips on how to improve? I likely need therapy but I don’t have the money.