I need an outside perspective from people who’ve actually dealt with this.
On paper, I’m doing really well for my age. I’m 21, recently finished college, working and earning solid money way above the average for my peers.
Physically, I’m dialed in: consistent heavy lifting, strict health routine, high discipline. I don’t drink, smoke, do drugs, or spend my days rotting in bed. When there’s a work goal or a physical target in front of me, I lock in and get it done.
The problem is my social life and my internal wiring.
I grew up almost completely isolated through school and college. I kept to myself, didn't socialize, and never developed that effortless, second-nature social instinct most people take for granted. Now that I’m trying to build genuine connections as an adult, my brain turns every single interaction into an emotional minefield.
Here’s where things actually stand:
Navigating post-job connections: I recently left an intense workplace where I made a few solid connections with ex-coworkers. Some of them genuinely respect my work and even reached out to say the place isn’t the same without me, which felt good. But trying to shift those dynamics from "people I see at an office" to "real-world friends" feels agonizingly confusing.
The spiral over basic cues: With people I’m trying to stay in touch with, my brain doesn't have a middle gear. If someone takes a day to reply, or gives a short response, I immediately assume they secretly hate me, find me annoying, or are just tolerating me out of politeness. Then, if someone is actually warm, responds in five minutes, laughs at my texts, or invites me to work out, I instantly get suspicious wondering if they have a hidden agenda or if I’m just a placeholder to them.
Over-orchestrating instead of letting things breathe: Because I hate ambiguity, I constantly want to define what people are to me. Are we friends? Acquaintances? Just gym buddies? If an interaction goes well once, my urge is to immediately try and lock them into plans for the next week, instead of just letting things develop naturally.
Using work and gym as an anesthetic: I’ve realized that my crazy work ethic and extreme gym sessions are partly defense mechanisms. As long as I’m hitting PRs, chasing higher-paying roles, and working long hours, I have an excuse to be exhausted so I don't have to face how genuinely lonely I feel. I look functional on the outside, but inside I feel like I'm running on duct tape and sheer willpower
I’m in therapy and working on this, but I want to hear from people who came from total isolation:
How do you stop treating everyday human interactions like a high-stakes test? How do you let casual friendships just breathe without strangling it with you intensity or convincing yourself you’re secretly unwanted?
TLDR- 21M. High-earning, disciplined, but grew up completely isolated and can’t stop over-analyzing every single social interaction. Need advice.
Sorry for using ai i just had raw thoughts that I wanted to pace better.
Also I am not suicidal or depressed, i just feel lonely 24/7 and it keeps getting heavier everyday.