friends

[TANTIV]

Does anyone else find it hard to keep good friends? I have never really had a lot of friends, through being bullied as a child I never trusted anyone or they refused to play.

Now as an adult I keep my distance and am very guarded. I don't mix work with pleasure, I play sport but again it's individual and as a small club they don't go out.

My wife and I have the same routine. Work, pick up kids, home, bed, repeat. We both would like friends but can't seem to find or be able to keep them. I know it's hard, I only have my dad over here and he's not well and we have never known anyone that close to trust our kids with them to go out.

[Munki]

I think the friends thing is a major factor in anxiety. I've troubled myself with friendships over the years though I do actually have friends - it's hard when you feel you're a square peg. If you actually 'want' to find friends, then there are so many things you and your wife can do. You could start a walking club (free), you could take your children to classes, you could join numerous groups. Maybe it's more the social factor you're missing than close friendships, if that's the case then you can come and go as you please without the 'commitment'.

[koala]

I have a small number of close friends rather than a big group of loads of friends and it can sometimes be difficult to meet and socialise with them because they are all so busy with work, have moved away etc so i don't get to do as much as i'd like with them. Despite being involved in a lot of different clubs and activities throughout my life i have always struggled to make close friendships. This wasn't help by the fact one of my best friends at school turned on me and started bullying me. I think it is great that you are involved in sport. Have you ever thought about having a fundraising event for your club? Or what about getting involved in a school event/committee that way you could get to know some of the other parents a bit better? Or you could even take up another sport or join another club and meet different people through that? Everyone is different and I realise these ideas might not appeal to you but i personally find that i enjoy attending the different sports clubs and activities more than i enjoy going out for meals etc even if i don't have the same friendships with the other club members.