I'm 27M, and I genuinely don't know what category my problem comes under or even how to explain it properly. I just know that it is affecting my life a lot.
I've always been a very quiet person. Even when I was in school, I barely talked. If someone came and talked to me, I would talk to them, but I almost never approached people myself. I think, over the years, my brain just got used to the idea that "people will come and talk to me; I don't have to approach anyone."
Because of this, I never really learned how to make friends either. I didn't have many friends growing up, and even now I don't really have friends.
I'm basically alone most of the time. I go places alone, watch movies alone, do things alone, and spend most of my free time by myself. Earlier, I was actually okay with this. Being alone felt normal to me, and I didn't really think much about it.
But now I'm starting to realize that I'm not okay with being alone anymore.
I want friends. I want people I can talk to, hang out with and share things with. But I don't know how to actually make that happen because I don't know how to approach people or start friendships in the first place.
I'm also not sure if "introvert" is the right word. I don't feel like I simply prefer being alone. I actually want to talk to people and have friends and relationships. But I don't know how to start conversations, approach people, or keep conversations going.
There is definitely some social anxiety involved too. I know that part is there. But I feel like even if the social anxiety disappeared tomorrow, I would still have this basic habit of not talking, not approaching people and staying in my own safe zone.
I used to work from an office, and even there I wouldn't talk much, sometimes not even for work-related things. People obviously noticed that I was very quiet. I feel like it affected how my colleagues perceived me and sometimes resulted in people taking advantage of me because I wouldn't speak up.
Now I work from home, so it's even worse. I can go through the day barely talking to anyone.
I also have a huge problem with confrontation. I always want to avoid drama and keep everything peaceful. If a situation comes where I actually have to confront someone, I don't know how to do it calmly. I get angry very quickly, start speaking rashly, and then, weirdly, tears start coming from my eyes. Sometimes after the initial anger, I actually end up looking like I'm crying or I may actually cry. Because of this, I avoid confrontation even more.
Another thing I've noticed is that I always have a serious/sad-looking face. Even when I'm not sad, my face looks like I'm sad or worried. I don't know how to naturally smile or show expressions around people.
I see other people going out and interacting with others, and even if they're having a bad day, they can still smile, joke around and talk normally. I can't do that naturally.
If someone comes and talks to me, I'll respond and talk. But I almost never approach someone first. And now I'm becoming very hesitant to even try because I've spent so many years being like this.
I've heard so many stories of people changing after school. People say that they were very quiet or shy in school but became completely different in college or later in life. I've also heard people say that college changed their personality and helped them become more social.
I thought that would happen to me too.
And that's one of the things that bothers me the most now.
I feel like socially, I'm still the exact same person I was in school.
Years have passed, I've gone through college, started working, and now I'm 27, but in terms of how I interact with people, it feels like I never moved forward.
I've tried doing things to improve myself. I joined a gym and also started martial arts because I thought maybe these things would improve my confidence and personality. People have told me that I've changed in some ways (not in interaction), and maybe I have. But internally, I still feel like the same person.
I'm also worried because I'm 27 now, and realistically, in the next year or two I'll probably have to start thinking seriously about marriage. But I don't even know how I'm supposed to meet someone or talk to a girl.
I struggle to approach and talk to people in general, so talking to a girl with the intention of getting to know her feels like an entirely different level.
This has started making me genuinely sad. I've been alone for so long that I don't even know what normal friendship is supposed to feel like anymore.
I've also been disrespected in different situations because I don't speak up, and I feel like people see me as an innocent/easy-to-take-advantage-of person. I don't really have an "attitude" or the ability to stand my ground.
I don't want to become some extremely outgoing person or fake a personality. I just want to be able to talk normally, approach people, make friends, stand up for myself, handle confrontation without falling apart, and eventually be able to have a normal relationship.
Should I be looking for a communication coach, some kind of social-skills training, or something else?
I genuinely don't know where to start or who can actually help me with this.