Hey Matt, thanks for your post
I don't know if it's the same feeling/behavior you are talking about, but I happen to be a very social and loving person also (well, not when social phobia pops in), however it has become over time very hard for people to get really close to me. I am absolutely terrified of the thought of someone loving me. I had a boyfriend for a year and a half until last december, and we had to break up partly because I developed relationship OCD (don't know if you've heard about it, but yeah, OCD linked to relationships, basically) and it drove me to doing several panic attacks a day.

Luckily, I only developed ROCD with him, so I guess in romantic relationships, and not with friends for instance. But when I look at myself when I'm in school, in social situations, I feel like I'm building walls between myself and others. I'm kind to everyone, I also feel like I love everyone somehow (sorry, may sound really cheesy ), and really like sharing love and helping others out. But I don't really let people in. I'm really bad in situations like parties and going for drinks. I didn't use to be though...but I became like that, I somehow feel very useless and ashamed of myself, which saddens me a lot because I know deep inside I'm a big partying girl...but I believe and hope it will get better.

I feel you...when you say "I like people and they like me back, I just can't deal with these connections". It's really how I feel.

And with my family, it's terrible. I really can't communicate easily. But I love them so much. And worse is, being unable to communicate makes me feel so guilty.

Anyway, I don't think my comment really helps, haha! Just wanted to react to your post because it made sense to me and I can relate. I hope you're having a good day. I don't know where you live and what time it is for you but for me it's nighttime, so I also wish you a good night

lots of strength!