I am writing this from my phone so please excuse any mistakes.

I'm pretty sure I have social anxiety. I've never gotten a diagnosis but that's mostly because I've had more pressing issues to deal with when I'd see my psychiatrist so I wouldn't talk about my extreme issues with social situations.

And example I can give is this, I've been going to a book club since August of 2014. I stopped going around November or so and didn't go back until this year. I've been going once a month since January, so 8 months. I still have trouble talking to the girls, I feel insecure and inferior and weird. They are all super nice and I'd love trying to make friends with them but it's difficult because we only meet up once a month (occasionally two times in a month for movie night). I have this issue wherever I go. In school I never really talked to people or made friends. The people I did talk to initiated it and then it got easier.

The thing is I look forward to the book club and I make sure to go to every month and I'll keep doing that when I start working. But, I haven't gotten truly comfortable and I end up feeling awkward and like a fish out of water. I feel weird and like everyone is judging me and it makes it difficult.

I had this same problem with my friends when I first started hanging out with them. I'd hang out with them but I wouldn't talk much and I didn't get close to them until after my friend C and I talked one night when we were alone.

I struggle with socializing and I am gonna start working soon and I know there are certain jobs I won't be able to handle because of my social anxiety.

I plan on talking to my psychiatrist about it and seeing what he says and in a few months I'll be able to afford to go back to therapy.

But, if anyone has struggled with social anxiety what has helped you? I'd like to get more comfortable in my book club but it doesn't seem to be happening and I worry I'll give up on going eventually. The only good thing is I have stopped getting anxious before I head to the persons house. So, it is improving buy I'd like to be able to talk confidently with people.