Hi Stbguy,
I always have found the people in bars were not the ones who were filled with empathy and embraced me with open arms.
I go to support groups about my illness and here online at Psych Central and I meet people that are very open and caring.

I would not stop trying, but I think you are too sensitive a person to judge yourself by how people at bars receive you. They are all putting on the dog pretending to be friendly but only to those who know the unwritten rules of the game. I was never good at that.

Following my inner drive to be creative, to exercise and be limber with yoga, to share music and to help people here on Psych Central have all been beneficial and indirectly brought me more in contact with people who do empathize.