Bashfull, you did well. We will do things for our animals even if we won't do them for ourselves.

I also had several years of not going out...it was also severe anxiety particularly the fear of meeting someone I knew and being 'judged'.

I had a therapist who really helped (awesome guy) and I also found Lexapro and Neurontin (Gabapentin) helpful on an ongoing basis. After a while I have been somewhat desensitized from some of my fears.

Wendy, it is so interesting what you say about suffering childhood abuse. It seems to send your nervous system out of whack.