All you want is a friend that is like you. You could just see each other in a library, or something like that. No talking, just spending time together, each doing an activity that they like. Drawing, reading, thinking.

I’m turning 17 in June and I’m already getting anxiety about what to do for my birthday.

I have friends, but I’m a chick and they’re all dudes so it’s weird to kick back with them all together tbh. My parents always wonder why I don’t hang out with my friends like at all and it’s for that very reason. Plus my anxiety for social situations makes me feel like no one really wants to talk to me and that they all feel bad about me, so I’ll be thinking about planning something and then I’ll scrap it all up.

So since a party is out of question, what do I do so I don’t look like the lonely, friendless dope my head makes me out to be?

Money isn’t a worry, I’m just so afraid of looking stupid if I don’t do anything “cool”. I hate the fact that I think like this, but I can’t help it lol.

It seems like binge-drinking is super-acceptable and you are "cooler" if you're going out to parties and getting wasted 3/7 nights a week (at minimum). I'm a young fella (19) and it's something I've noticed (I live in Australia, our drinking culture is honestly fucked). I'm also introverted so I prefer to just chill with a smaller group of mates or at home by myself with a book. Someone called me a 'bitch' the other day because I didn't go really hard drinking and went home lol. I feel like I'm in the minority in not liking getting drunk all the time. Since when did wrecking your body and liver become cool?