Meant to comment on this since you posted it…

Thanks for writing it as I know exactly what you mean and it’s good to hear I’m not the only one. I was bullied pretty badly as a kid and into my teen years and my response was to withdraw from people. I don’t trust anyone until I know them very well and I absolutely distrust strangers. I am convinced everyone I pass in the street is judging me. I’m so much happier in my house with four walls and an internet connection between me and any social interaction.

As such, I love working from home, but if I do it too much, leaving the house and talking to people gets harder and harder. I rely on my wife like an interpreter in social situations and avoid speaking to people whenever I can; even down to waiting longer in a queue to use self-checkouts or sitting in the single seats on trains.

Thankfully, I chose a career that requires me to interact with people. I hate it, but it stops me from being a complete hermit. Once you’ve flown to another country and called bullshit on a ridiculously-rich, powerful executive at a press conference of hundreds of people, it’s a lot easier to believe you can do it when you have to.

Keep getting out of the house and out of where you’re comfortable. You’ll be surprised at what you can do and the more you exercise those muscles, the easier it is to be social.