troubled said:
I was meant to attend an appointment today but I turned around because I felt too anxious / gross...
Yes, I know that feeling. Yesterday, I had to attend an expo thing with some people I knew ... took every ounce of effort to go there. Tremendous anxiety, and I was on the verge of calling it off. But I didn't, thankfully, and had a reasonably good day out, despite a gruelling train journey home.
As Sunweb wrote, it's a problem than can only be really cured by other people - and I think there's much to be said for that. Trouble is, when you
start going out and meeting other people - via clubs, activites, work etc - it can be very difficult. At the beginning, there's a distinct feeling of being the 'outsider' of the group. But then, everyone starts as being a bit of an outsider when it comes to these things, don't they? But I reckon it's worthwhile, in that I can't think of any other way to get out of this funk. It will take time, however, and a little courage. I'm sure you'll be up to it.
And don't forget, you'll always have us here. It's a pretty good place, all said and done. Strange irony, that the loneliest people should be the nicest, too
You can take it is a fact that many of us here will be more than willing to offer support and advice, should you need it.