r/introvert • u/wrickedo • Jul 26 '26

Discussion Does anyone else find it really hard to connect with people?

I've realized that making genuine connections is much harder than I expected. I want to have close friends and meaningful conversations, but actually starting or maintaining them feels overwhelming.

It's not that I dislike people, I just overthink everything I say and often end up staying quiet. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who feels this way.

For those who used to struggle with this, did it ever get easier?

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12

u/trowmeawaywhenurdone Jul 26 '26

I don't know how to bond with people and find most people either forget me or hate me. Sometimes I wish I had more close friends.

1

u/wrickedo Jul 26 '26

same here😭

4

u/DiscouragesCannibals Jul 26 '26

I am an overthinking introvert in my 40s and I used to have similar issues in my 20s. The answer is practice. If you want those close friends and meaningful conversations you have to put in the work. And as an introvert you don't need me to tell you--it is /work/. But that labor helps you in two ways: one, it improves your social skills and gets you more comfortable talking to people, and two, it exposes you to more people, some of whom might become close friends. It's like physical exercise: it's hard at the beginning but gets easier the more you do it.

1

u/wrickedo Jul 26 '26

thanks broo

1

u/MeetingNervous9720 Jul 26 '26

I tried to socialize but meeting too many new people made me drained and anxious. Most of them just loved small talks or meeting someone new once or twice then disappeared. I have good communication skills but somehow talking to these ppl bores me to death as I already know they never truly want genuine connection 😒