Breaking free from my sheltered life

[KatieCountrycm]

Long story short....I've always been shy with few friends throughout my life. Early teens, I started to withdraw into my own world and daydreaming for hours in a day. Ironically, I had 2 sisters very
close in age and another one 7yrs. younger. I wasn't close to them or my parents growing up.

Though, I've always had a job since I was about 17, I isolated myself from everyone and kept to myself. I was the "loner" Stayed home on the weekends when I wasn't working. I've never been on a date. I've tried going to Church and meeting people which didn't work, it's not for me anymore. I don't believe in organized religion.

I lived in fear......driving and people.......I have recently gotten over my fear of driving and that has been awesome.....people scare me because I know there's "bad" people out there or people pretending to be your friend.

I've been getting out more even if it means doing it alone. It's hard. When I communicate, it's not that good. One factor that makes communication difficult is that I can't hear well, had that problem all my life. So when people talk, I have a hard time graspig what they're saying and don't like asking people to repeat themselves.

I want to be funnier too. I hate the feeling of being too serious.

[Stephenie]

It sounds like you've made some good steps! Maybe you could take a class or join a book club etc to meet some people. Check out meetup.com to see if there is something in your area that interests you. I am really shy too, and I have the same problem where I don't hear well, I really feel you on that. I know logically that no one would care if I asked them to repeat what they said, but I just feel award and smile or nod. Good luck and keep trying!

[lolar2]

Have you been to an audiologist lately to see if there have been any recent technological advances to help you hear better?

Or conversely, if you can really barely hear at all, have you considered learning sign language (if you don't already know it) and making more deaf friends and/ or hearing friends who can sign?

[KatieCountrycm]

Originally Posted by lolar2

Have you been to an audiologist lately to see if there have been any recent technological advances to help you hear better?

Or conversely, if you can really barely hear at all, have you considered learning sign language (if you don't already know it) and making more deaf friends and/ or hearing friends who can sign?

I wear the highest powered hearing aids. I only have hearing friends, like the people I meet at the bar