Feel so different to everyone my age

[becks xxx]

Just wondering if anyone else feels like this .. I have my down days where constantly thinking how different I feel to everyone else - more so people my own age. I'm 18. Everyone my age is out with their friends enjoying themselves, I'm always at home because of my anxiety. I do keep in contact with friends and have some over, the main conversation is always ther boyfriends. They all seem so happy yet all my life is is anxiety. I get on with boys well.. But as soon as I know they have feelings for me I back off? I'll make excuses to not go out on my own with a boy I just get too nervous.. I certainly cant eat infront of them. Why am I like this? Being a virgin at 18 too seems so embarrassing .. Hmmm just feel so different :-(

[katexxxx]

your not alone,im 23 and i feel the same,most ppl are outn clubbing,not me.but its a good thing,dont worry.we are just more mature cos of our issues.it can be a good thing x

[Smallie]

There's nothing wrong with being a virgin at 18. 18 is still very young. Society makes people think that if you haven't lost your virginity by a certain age, then you're not normal. Well F society, that's what i say.

I can relate to everything you said and i'm a lot older than you. It is hard but believe me there are plenty of people in your situation. And when you reach 30, i bet you will think that 18 is actually very young and why was i worried about being a virgin at such a young age.

[Edie]

Apparently the average age to lose your virginity is 20, which means many are older than you.

I felt the same as you at 18. I'm 31 now and feel different to others my age for other reasons. Most of my old school friends are married with children now and I'm nowhere near it.

It's hard when you have this illness. It does make you different. But friendships are important, and as you do have some friends, maybe they can help you feel less alone.

[Gotagetthroughthis]

Hey becks,

I feel like that a lot aswell, i'm in my early 20's and find myself not being able to do certain things due to anxiety. A lot of the time i'm at home while my mates are out having fun or going on Holiday. It feels like i'm wasting the young years of my life.

Your not different we just have anxiety issues which sometimes prevents us from doing things.

I know its hard but if you can with the worries about eating in front of a boy, just go for it, whats the worst that can happen. The guy is probably more concerend about what he looks like while eating lol. I'm a guy and I know I worry about eating in front of girls but if I can I force myself and things always go ok. If you can just go for it and don't let the anxiety keep you at home. I know its easier said than done.

Hope things start to get better for you soon :)

[Sparkle1984]

I'm 28 and I can well relate to feeling different to everyone my age. This is not just because of anxiety but also because I have Asperger's Syndrome (high functioning autism), which makes it harder for me to socialise with others. Things have got better over the years, but sometimes I do still feel like the odd one out.

Also, there's nothing wrong with being a virgin at 18, in fact I'm still a virgin at 28! To be honest, I actually think I'm asexual, as I just don't get the urges and don't feel attracted to anyone in a sexual way. The whole idea of sex just seems so alien to me. People probably think it's weird but I'm happy the way I am. This is such a stigmatising subject that no-one outside my family or my closest friends knows that I'm still a virgin. I did have a couple of dates when I was in my early 20s, but neither of them worked out because I didn't want to have sex with them! As you can imagine, this very much limits my options and I haven't been on any more dates since then. I'm not saying that you are necessarily asexual, but I can understand how you must feel so different to your friends.

As you are still in your teenage years you must feel a lot of pressure to fit in, but the good thing is that when you get a bit older there is less peer pressure and people don't seem quite so judgmental. I also don't worry quite so much about what others think of me. That's what I've found since being in my 20s.

[Smallie]

I'm 28 and I can well relate to feeling different to everyone my age. This is not just because of anxiety but also because I have Asperger's Syndrome (high functioning autism), which makes it harder for me to socialise with others. Things have got better over the years, but sometimes I do still feel like the odd one out.

Also, there's nothing wrong with being a virgin at 18, in fact I'm still a virgin at 28! To be honest, I actually think I'm asexual, as I just don't get the urges and don't feel attracted to anyone in a sexual way. The whole idea of sex just seems so alien to me. People probably think it's weird but I'm happy the way I am. This is such a stigmatising subject that no-one outside my family or my closest friends knows that I'm still a virgin. I did have a couple of dates when I was in my early 20s, but neither of them worked out because I didn't want to have sex with them! As you can imagine, this very much limits my options and I haven't been on any more dates since then. I'm not saying that you are necessarily asexual, but I can understand how you must feel so different to your friends.

As you are still in your teenage years you must feel a lot of pressure to fit in, but the good thing is that when you get a bit older there is less peer pressure and people don't seem quite so judgmental. I also don't worry quite so much about what others think of me. That's what I've found since being in my 20s.

I can relate to you in a way. I'm 29 and haven't met any guys who i wanted to get intimate with. Had a few "relationships" but none who i really likes enough. I wouldn't say i'm asexual but the thought of having sex does kind of make me nervous although i hope to met someone one day. Having these damn anxieties just makes it so much harder! And it's hard when people who don't suffer from anxiety don't understand and think i'm weird or a "scaredy cat"