That's probably the way most people feel, Gina re. Unless one happens to be a narcissist and craves more and more attention, and really must have it from all types of people and at all times, you're in the majority.

I would discuss with my psychiatrist the irritability and annoyance, because there may be a medication that you can take that will relieve that when you're in social situations. I will take .5 mg. Clonazepam if I know I'm going to be around one special group of people for a long period whom I just do not like particularly.

Think nothing of not having many friends; the few you do have are probably genuine ones and like you for who you are. They're really hard to find in life, honestly.

I wouldn't call being alone loneliness, necessarily. I would tend to think of it as
independence. And I love my independence, and yes, I'm alone a good bit, and prefer it, frankly.

It's just so pleasant being able to do whatever I want and not having to be sure that I'm caring for guests well when they visit or that I have to vent to a family member
when I can do that with my psychiatrist--it may be expensive, but it saves problems
within the family and also allows me to be positive when I am with people. We don't
exhaust our supply of "niceness" under circumstances like that.

Take care and enjoy your life; you're living a good one, it seems to me.