ScaredKitty

I was, and am still very much like you. I NEVER went out when I was 14, I always found something wrong with everyone, and much preferred to be able to hit a "block" button when Id had enough of my friends, than make up excuses about why I couldn't hang out. I also hated everyone from my school - it was a very trendy school, and full of the "popular" type people, and Im a bit of an odd ball, I dont like to follow the crowd too much, and I dont like to be centre of attention, or dress like everyone else, or hang out in large obnoxious groups, so I never got on well with many people at school. My mother also died when I was 14(suicide). That didn't help much either, I became even more secluded. I got a counsellor, and that helped a lot, Ive been on meds since I was 7, but they didn't do much for my social skills, or lack of, and no will to get any. I finally had to force myself. I was tired of being inside all day and not having interactions with real people, and not having someone around. It gets lonely being alone all the time. So I got a small part time job, not for the money, but just to be around people. It got me out of the house doing something productive, with people who I didnt know from school. I actually made a lot of friends. This could be an option for you, if you can find a part-time job, even to work once or twice a week. It'll get you out and off the computer. The internet can be really addicting. I now spend from the minute i wake up until I go to bed on the internet. This though is because I had to quit my job, and my boyfriend who lives far away and I see rarely is home all day too...we talk on the net all day. I will go out if something comes up, like a friend calls me. But I get lost without my computer for more than a few hours.

Are their any recreational football leagues outside of your school, just in the city that you could join? You'd obviously meet people with the same interests, and probably make a bunch of friends. At the very least, it'd get you out of the house atleast once a week, and you'd be out doing something you like to do with other people.

I know its hard, but you really do need to force yourself to get out to try to meet new people somehow. Getting a job at some quiet little place where theres only a few people who work there, and minimal customer interaction since youre shy. After not too long, you'll have new friends, trust me. Or find a football league, or any sports clubs or other interests you might have.

You really do need to do it. It sounds hard, and painful to tear yourself off the computer when its all you ever do, and try to go out and do something new. And at first, it really does suck. You go to work (or wherever else) and sit there all shy and quiet thinking "why am I here? I could be at home talking on the internet and playing games. Instead Im here not talking to anyone, and not doing anything I enjoy" but after a week or two, you find yourself sitting at home thinking about work, and that you have to tell so and so from work what happened the other day. Then you find yourself asking for more shifts, and hanging out with people from work on a regular basis.

As for now, until you're able to do that, try really hard to set a limit for yourself for the computer, so that once you get started on other things like a job, club, etc...you wont be so distraught about having to leave your computer, because it wont be your entire life anymore. I know theres probably not much to do, but if you limit yourself on the computer, and then find yourself getting bored of things that aren't the computer you'll have more of a drive to get out and do something. Trust me, you just have to force it, and its not so bad.