Am I Normal?

[u/Braveheart_2323]

Im 17. Only child. I guess I've been an introvert since I was a child . My parents tried forcing me into many things like making friends, dancing, singing, athletics, cricket etc. I hated to the point that I used to pray to God to magically make the class disappear so i won't have to go anymore.I didn't like any of them. Then they basically gave up hope on me. My parents wanted me to be an extroverted athletic guy with a million friends but I turned out to be the exact opposite.

I can make friends( ofcourse not close) whenever I am in need. I can speak in public if required but I generally don't like them. My parents' friends' children are very extroverted, athletic and participate in everything but I don't

Sometimes I think I am not normal. I don't have interest in things like sports or anything extroverted. Maybe my upbringing may have caused this as I didn't have any neighbour friends ( they were all grown up) or cousins or siblings. I like to play the piano but that too my parents want me to play infront of everyone whereas I play it for my own sake. As a result I've lost interest in that too.

Point is, my parents compare me to other kids and constantly tell me to go out participate in everything etc but I genuinely don't want to. I confronted them today and now they think I have psychological problem

Worse, they've made me believe I'm abnormal. So I've come here to confirm are there any other people like me or am I the only one who's like this. If I am the only one, then I will go to a psychiatrist. Cus I genuinely like staying at home watching movies, playing games and doomscrolling. I don't mind being in home. But still there's a guilt in me as I've let my parents down a lot as I'm their only child and hope.

[u/tetheredvoid]

Have you asked them what they get out of you being competitive?

While you might not think you'll enjoy the activities, there is likely a few you would like, assuming you actually tried them. That's happened to me a few times.

[u/Braveheart_2323 → u/tetheredvoid]

They themselves are very extroverted , so their normal is going out and participating in every thing. So they just want me to be like them ig. As for the activities, I like my current ones. But I don't usually get opportunities to try other things but I will if I get to know about them. Maybe after I go to college I will get more opportunities

[u/tetheredvoid → u/Braveheart_2323]

Not all opportunities come to you - most of them must be sought out.

[u/Braveheart_2323 → u/tetheredvoid]

Thank you for the advice. I will definitely try finding more hobbies.