Does this make me anti-social? (What to do when people think you're anti soc!
Question: I personally do not consider myself anti-social.
I used to (about a year ago/before I got medicine for anxiety and bipolar disorder) consider myself anti-social because I was nervous around large groups of people and avoided them.
Now things are different. I am not nervous around large groups of people, even people I don't know. I don't feel comfortable or 'right at home' around them, but i'm not nervous...just indifferent.
I don't avoid groups of people or anything, and when I am around lots of people I am a lot more lively than I was before. I'm not afraid to speak up.
But some people still call me antisocial. Sometimes when I am invited to go somewhere I would rather just sleep or relax at home after a long day or school and work.
Also, I don't drink (not only because I don't find it appealing, but also because of my medicine) so I don't go to bars with people...and they think it's an excuse because i'm anti-social.
I usually just prefer to be alone rather than with
Answers: Just look at it this way - people are only calling you antisocial to try to get you to prove them wrong - so that you will go out with them. That just means that they like being around you, which is a good thing, but that doesn't mean that you have to please them.
The other reason people try to pressure you into going out with them is so that they can feel like they are normal and are doing the right thing. A lot of people in our society really like to drink often, and they want to feel that that is okay, too, so they want you to join them and make them feel okay about it.
I went through a transition like that some years ago. I just found that I was much happier being at home sometimes and doing things I liked by myself (or going out and doing quieter things with one friend). There's nothing at all wrong with that. Usually it just means that you are becoming more mature and finding out what really makes you happy.
Taking time to relax and regenerate after school or work is really a good thing. Knowing what you want is also a good thing. Just keep listening to your own heart and judgment and keep doing what makes you feel the happiest and the healthiest.