Shaymus-- how ironic!! I didn't see this thread until just now, I was at my T. session this morning and I was talking to him about the VERY same thing!!!

He doesn't care for me to rely on the internet for my socialization. I also don't have any 3-d friends. My husband is the only one I socialize with and of course my two boys- but now that they are teens, they are around less and I don't even see their friends parents like I did when the kids were younger.

It's a small world for me, I suppose-- but I feel similar to you-- I don't want to hang around someone and feel like they are just tolerating me and that 5% bad reaction from anyone- always makes me run!! . It's less stressful only having one person in which to communicate with in person! But like some have said-- -- what if something happened and we wouldn't be together for some reason---- I would be totally alone!! That does scare me a bit!!

My T. keeps asking me what the attraction is for me on forums. So, here's the thing--- I told him today that I'm using it to better my social skills in that I am reaching out ( ever so slightly-- but I'm reaching) to others and trying to find my voice that has been silenced since childhood. I told him, I look at forums as a kind of " walker"- that helps me get around socially. It's kind of like a stepping stone to a better me. I told him -- with this "practice" I'm hoping to be able to someday apply what I've accomplished here-- into my 3-d life.

OK- so that's what I told him-- and he said " Well alright, I can buy that "-- with a bit of apprehension in his voice--- Is he thinking I'm making excuses not to socialize in person?? Perhaps he doesn't believe this is even a process that's workable?? I don't know myself-- but I thought it sounded like a good theory anyway!

Sounds like your T. is concerned that your old habits will not be replaced by newer healthy ones. Maybe if you asked yourself-- " What do I need to work on regarding socializing? " and then try out the exercise on a forum. Like for me--- if I don't get an answer from the original thread starter but the person that posted right after gets answered--- I automatically think- that the thread originator " hates" me--- well, I'm challenging that lately -- by telling myself--- 1) maybe that person just didn't know what to say back to me -- or 2) they accidentally skipped my post -- or 3) they felt totally heard and didn't think anything needed to be said.--- it is very hard to think differently!!

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that, maybe it would help if you did look at forums like this one, as a tool to help you grow-- then that way- your T. might buy it like mine did!

I don't know if it can help me in the way I'd like, but I figured-- it's worth a try-- what do I have to lose??

Good luck with your T. and the subject of forums!

Mandy