Generally spesking people on the forum are fine

[firemonkey]

It's all too clear that I don't really fit in though.

[Spider22324]

I think I kinda feel the same way.

[Dougella]

It's a very common feeling unfortunately, but other people don't see you that way!

[Blackflies]

I think all of us feel that way on here at certain points of time. Some people feel “too well” to be here, others “too sick”, some too old, some too young. Most of us are here, at points in our life because we seek connection and when we don’t find it, feel it’s further proof that there’s something wrong with us. It’s the fact that most of us will encounter that feeling, at points of our life that is the very reason we all fit in here, albeit in some loose form that isn't always mentionable.

[Utopia]

Lol... I would have to disagree with you on that one, when it comes to myself atleast . Seriously though, I have come through awful mental health problems, one of which was SA (started with) and tbh I have much more normal social anxieties now, I would say. I think there are people who appear fine on the surface but inside they are not fine at all. I am simply acknowledging that this is a valid problem and that the solution is a matter of mindset (in my case), and that medication has been scientifically shown to help with SA. It is misunderstood, frankly, it is a miracle people acknowledge it as a problem at all. Depression and a personality disorder still persist for me however, but despite depression, I am surprisingly optimistic - I think people are naturally way too pessimistic, generally.

Also, there are a lot of lurkers on this forum, I'd imagine those users suffer with SA more. Sometimes things are not what they seem on the surface.

[Dougella]

^ Yes and some people find it much easier to type and post on a forum than they do to speak in real life (I'm one of those).

[Utopia]

^ Agreed.

[firemonkey]

You all make good points. I've always been someone, forum wise, who's respected more than liked.

[Messer]

I admire you firemonkey, because you always put yourself out there. I don't know if it's true, but I see you as someone who does his own thing.

[Mr. Nobody]

A human "fitting in" to an internet message board that only exists on a computer's screen is probably something impossible, and, speaking as a human,...undesirable, too.

With "fitting in", we're talking about conformity, slavish allegiance,...to something that only has an existence in the electronic ether of the internet, ...doesn't sound every 'Human-like' to me,...

Forum-Shmorum,..

[firemonkey]

^ ^ I do my own thing more out of fear and social ineptitude than anything else. I've always been at least fairly asocial, but failed attempts at the social interaction that mh pros regard as healthy has definitely increased it.

The temptation at present is to quit all forums, not just this one. I'm not sad, but the feeling of things being pointless, and my being useless and worthless is quite strong .

[Dougella]

^ I've always liked and respected you firemonkey! You leaving the forum would be really sad, you'd be very much missed.

[firemonkey]

My insecurity can be traced back to peer rejection and being bullied as a teenager. My default mode is to think people won't like me,especially if they get to know me more.