It's great to have online friendships if that works for you. Whatever works. It does take energy to make a new circle of friends in real life. Just because you have your online friends doesn't mean you have to abandon it though! As I read your post there's still a lot of room for growth if you can take it slowly! Sometimes it's one person too that can lead you into a new circle. It does take effort.

This isn't advertising. I wrote this but it's applicable to this thread because I don't think anyone with schizoaffective disorder writes all that much about this.
Rebuilding Social Skills After a Psychotic Break | The Mighty