I live in Phoenix. Im 39 y/o and feel like I am too old to make any friends.
I am hoh and was mainstreamed and experienced the social isolation that appears to be common, from what Ive read. I dont really identify with the deaf, dont know sign language. Dont feel like I relate to anyone really
Also, I think I have avoidant personality disorder.
no you dont have it, its just manifested in your consciousness, you just need to um, harden up and at same time loosen a little, be kind to your and give other people chance to be nice to you.
i do know what you mean by 'too old to make freinds' as in observing the 'social' or 'social clock people so call live by" but thats not entirely true. my guess (that i do this to myself too) that we just sometimes wish we can make new freinds easily without having to compromise or explain ourselves or put up with who will be your freind but itsnt the right 'match' for interests in a range of areas...so i do kind of know where you coming from, but reducing all this into one particular 'sentence' as in 'self diagnose' is really not a safe way to think about how the world 'explains itself to you'.
its not like that, i mean i , myself nearly thought at one time that i had 'borderline personality dsorder' as i was really depressed and trying to find a reason to why, i mean like to try understand, but it was a 'false' substituation of sorts to 'comprehend the wallowing, awful despairing feelings like im a old dead leaf in the damp darkness under the mound of other autumn leaves, not getting any light to make the 'old skin tarnishing into the nice golden for reflection, but nope i was drowning in the soak of the wet weather....ohhh geez this is a crazy writing just now, but thats the sensation i had when i was almost convinced that i had some kind of personality disorder but clearly (now) i didn't , it was just that 'need' to give myself that 'excuse' to feel that way, like as almost as if its a comfortable numb feeling so i dont have to face the requirement of energy to make an effort for change or to 'fight'...
really Doug, you will soon get tired of the self-padding up in sorrow feelings you will soon realise its a waste of time (took me a good 2 years now) to actually say to myself 'its a waste of time' in a really really clear way like feelings and words MATCH....
right now you feelings and words dont match (not saying you are stupid im saying the bold clarity isnt there yet as proof, when it does, you'd know exactly what i mean.
so, i wont say , dont be silly, and all that, but i will say, you WILl get sick of getting nowhere and convince the only way is UP, its long, but its not like a 100M sprint up the stairs, its a climb over tree roots on the mountain side kind of climb, but that's good because it is character building it will make you mentally and emotionally STRONG, and with that your overall physical side will be relaxed and at ease, even fit.
All i will say right now, its learn to climb mentally thru doing ONE thing at a time, like i mean go to a appointment once a week, dont miss it, do it, make that as a 'i done it this week, it was good' somehow bullshit yourself into thinking that was a useful thing you did that day, or that week, and KEEP thinking THat way....in time you'd find yourself self training to get mentally fitter because you have slowly made yourself doing more positive thinking...
i think thats would be enough to say for now, and another thing, you're NOT ALONE, i felt and occassionaly feel it come back but it quick pisses off, as soon as I say , i gonna do this instead of thinking about this bullshit...and with that I always say "ive moved on' and well I truely have too!...
hope this helps...
Cheer up!