Wow you are me. I have also always kind of been this way but something totally broke during the COVID years. I got out of practice or something…losing whatever interest or social skills I had entirely. My social anxiety went from mild to severe. I’m actually really sad about it and am seeing a therapist but nothing is working.

Can you just sit away from people? Or send DH? That is what I do. And I only attend when I 100% have to.

Anonymous wrote:Stay in your car until last minute. Once the event starts, parents are watching the game. Does your spouse attend with you? Can he carry on the small talk conversations?

He often does but he LOVES to chat and gets into his own conversations I'm not necessarily a part of. It's actually less awkward for me when he's not there. He also likes to linger after and chat some more.

OP I have not spoken a word to a fellow HS parent in several years, maybe not since early 2022. I hear you. It will be over soon.

Stay in your car until last minute. Once the event starts, parents are watching the game. Does your spouse attend with you? Can he carry on the small talk conversations?

I feel the same way, except I was like this even before Covid. It’s small talk. I absolutely hate it and typically feel like I have nothing to say.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least you are socializing out of duty. I go to games etc. but read a book if I am not watching my kid. I don't have the mental bandwidth to care about small talk.

Do you WANT friends? I don't.

No, but I do feel like a weirdo for not having any.

You are not a weirdo. There are MANY people just like you.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you developed social anxiety disorder.

OP do you fully work from home?

I do, but I have for 15 years so it isn't new.

Sounds like you developed social anxiety disorder.

OP do you fully work from home?

Anonymous wrote:Are you an introvert or a person with agoraphobia?

If an introvert, recharge your battery after these social gatherings.

If agoraphobia is setting in, get professional help.

It's not agoraphobia. I don't mind being out in the world with no interactions or quick interactions. It's the social closeness and chatter I mind.

Are you an introvert or a person with agoraphobia?

If an introvert, recharge your battery after these social gatherings.

If agoraphobia is setting in, get professional help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least you are socializing out of duty. I go to games etc. but read a book if I am not watching my kid. I don't have the mental bandwidth to care about small talk.

Do you WANT friends? I don't.

No, but I do feel like a weirdo for not having any.

PP here. Then work on that, don't focus on getting something you don't even want because of other people's opinion of you. That's messed up.

Anonymous wrote:At least you are socializing out of duty. I go to games etc. but read a book if I am not watching my kid. I don't have the mental bandwidth to care about small talk.

Do you WANT friends? I don't.

No, but I do feel like a weirdo for not having any.

At least you are socializing out of duty. I go to games etc. but read a book if I am not watching my kid. I don't have the mental bandwidth to care about small talk.

Do you WANT friends? I don't.

Do you really regret it? I was thinking you just need to build back your tolerance for it. If you really hate it, I wonder if you need help at all? I don't know with what, but it feels like you're going towards being a recluse and maybe want to nip it in the bud?

I was never social and always an introvert but I have been dreading nearly all interactions lately. It's senior year for my ds and there is more than ever with other parents. I HATE it. I do it, show up to games and events, but it's like crawling out of my skin, forcing small talk and feeling awful afterwards, systematically. I have not had friends in a very long time, and even seeing family aside from just my parents and in-laws is difficult for me. It's like I have a social part of my brain that broke during Covid and now any social anything is physically painful to me, I don't want to do it and always regret it. I am socializing purely out of duty.