This is the most irritating forms of social anxiety there is out there because it is seen as such a child like symptom easy to conquer. It is not! I have lost so many jobs, because once co-workers see that I am shy, they think it is a reason to bring large amounts of disrespect. I also have people that want to be friends (I don't look shy) then look down on me for not being able to be more outgoing, or hold conversations. And the worst is for the fact that I study and train a form of kung fu that is close quarters combat (ving tsun), so once I get tired of the criticisms from others (co-workers, friends of friends, neighbors, etc.), my defense system kicks in and I become aggressive. So I look passive aggressive, not someone tired of disrespect. My unemployment is done and my emergency unemployment has been held up. So instead of living homeless, I am teaching myself how to tie a noose. I was always told that I would never make it on my own (too lazy, lack discipline, etc.), and now that I am truly on my own, I am the failure. I have not been in a relationship in over seven years, and it's not that I don't get offers, but my offers are from true nuts! I have tried so many times to work on myself esteem but being a black american, it is hard since we are our own worst enemy (yes Caucasians it is not your fault, but our own negativity). You are no longer respected being yourself in my sub-culture (American first and foremost), you are looked down upon when you don't dress, talk, and act like the rest-still at this age (I am not a nigga, and will never see myself as one, I am a man). So I am done, there is no God, and hopefully by the twenty-seventh of this month I will be gone....good luck to the rest of you (no one will read the thread for the length).