Hey SleepingSiren,

I agree with what Hooligan said - you did a great job going into a social situation knowing the potential for pain... I think you did a great job making an effort and pulling through it while being triggered - and you surely learned something from doing it.

Perhaps by showing your face more often - it would naturally lead to open doors. It had been half a year since you showed your face - there's no wonder people wouldn't come flocking to you immediately.

I think you should do whatever you can to suspend self judgment. It would be easy to attribute the difficulty you experienced to being solely your fault - but that is not always the case. There is a reason you felt that way - and as Hooligan already suggested - it could very well be a reflection of the group rather than of yourself.

I hope you are doing well,

Thanks,HD