Thanks for your response.

Regarding volunteering: Perhaps look for opportunities that do not involve speaking up in groups. Does any particular volunteer activity come to mind as being of interest--e.g. soup kitchen, library, senior center, tutoring, nature center?

The relationship you mentioned involving prior abuse or cutting clearly was not healthy, but maybe it is premature to rule out all such possible relationships?

What is your thinking on the possibility or effectiveness of seeing a therapist?