Hi all,

I wanted to get some of your thoughts on social phobia and variations. It's the missing part of the puzzle on my recovery journey.

Throughout the years, I've built a solid wall against most people. Therefore now, I don't let anyone come into my private world. Because I got hurt a lot in the past, I created this defense mechanism, thus what started as social phobia now is also a social "aversion", if there is such thing.

I isolated myself completely, however, now that I'm in better terms with depression, I feel an urge to slowly get people back into my life. So far, it has been extremely difficult (almost impossible), as I see that I unconsciously have my reservations, don't have much patience and I don't even know how relationships work anymore. I'm very introvert and some even told me that I don't look "friendly or approachable". Something needs to be done, I can't take being lonely anymore, yet I don't know how to overcome this barrier.