I hear you, man. I’ve found that you just gotta find the right people. After meeting some people where I truly feel like I can be myself, I am now healing. I still struggle to like myself at times, but having people that love me helps.
It’s not exactly what I enjoy that I can’t do, it’s just a general energy/enthusiasm switch. If I’m having a really good time, I usually make lots of comments, can be annoying to other people. I can also get very energetic or silly at times, or heated/invested in a discussion (basically an intensity problem). Unless they see through this and understand my core, they will always be annoyed and put off by that aspect of myself. It’s hard to explain and is something I need to talk to my therapist a lot more about, lol.
Have you made many friends without face-to-face? Like, online friends, phone talking friends, etc? I imagine that’s a good way to find real ones.
That’s one I can’t do. I feel like I have to be stoic all the time in person, because I’m a big guy, and I’m unattractive so I have to maintain something to be, idk, respected? I have to really know a person before I can allow myself to be silly around them. My last “boyfriend” cemented that in, too. He dumped me and said he couldn’t deal with the “cutesy shit” took me a while to get past that one. Not the guy, so much. I felt like I had found something I never thought I’d have, and then ending it by saying that… Cut deep.
And I’m lucky on the friend front. I have a lot of long term friendships online, but I also have a few very close IRL friends, and I’m extremely close with my family.
Do you have anyone you can be passionate about things with?
No, I definitely get it. Maybe not exactly the same, but I have been traumatised enough to learn to present myself like an amicable, calm guy(masking culture, limiting my energy levels). I definitely need to get close to someone to allow that side of myself to get out, but sometimes it just comes out without my control if I really feel comfortable. But yeah, the comfort only comes out when I really trust someone.
One of my exes definitely cemented it in too. Shaming me for some behaviors 💀 Then, another ex praised my silliness, so it helped me come out of my shell a bit more. Nowadays I feel like I let out just enough to be a “fun, chill guy”.
Sorry to hear about that cutesy shit comment. That really sucks. If it wasn’t his thing, that’s fine, but to bring you down for it is just a fuckin asshole move. (I’m a proud user of the :3 face lol, it just represents that cheeky cute emotion perfectly)
Glad to hear you have good connections. That’s really what life is about I think. Building connections with others and building yourself up (knowledge, hobbies, wisdom, etc)
I do have my few IRL friends too. 2 really long term ones that have never failed me, another couple stray friends from jobs I’ve had, and most recently a group of musician friends I met last year. It’s the kind of “guy friendgroup” connection I’d been lacking for many years, and they’re all just as weird and hyper-knowledgable in their respective special interests lol. I just love people like that!
I’ve never had that sort of bro-y guy group, but it’s also not something I long for…I’m glad you’ve got it, though! It seems super valuable to those who want it. I just can’t watch football. Lmao
I hear you, man. I’ve found that you just gotta find the right people. After meeting some people where I truly feel like I can be myself, I am now healing. I still struggle to like myself at times, but having people that love me helps.
It’s not exactly what I enjoy that I can’t do, it’s just a general energy/enthusiasm switch. If I’m having a really good time, I usually make lots of comments, can be annoying to other people. I can also get very energetic or silly at times, or heated/invested in a discussion (basically an intensity problem). Unless they see through this and understand my core, they will always be annoyed and put off by that aspect of myself. It’s hard to explain and is something I need to talk to my therapist a lot more about, lol.
Have you made many friends without face-to-face? Like, online friends, phone talking friends, etc? I imagine that’s a good way to find real ones.
That’s one I can’t do. I feel like I have to be stoic all the time in person, because I’m a big guy, and I’m unattractive so I have to maintain something to be, idk, respected? I have to really know a person before I can allow myself to be silly around them. My last “boyfriend” cemented that in, too. He dumped me and said he couldn’t deal with the “cutesy shit” took me a while to get past that one. Not the guy, so much. I felt like I had found something I never thought I’d have, and then ending it by saying that… Cut deep.
And I’m lucky on the friend front. I have a lot of long term friendships online, but I also have a few very close IRL friends, and I’m extremely close with my family.
Do you have anyone you can be passionate about things with?
No, I definitely get it. Maybe not exactly the same, but I have been traumatised enough to learn to present myself like an amicable, calm guy(masking culture, limiting my energy levels). I definitely need to get close to someone to allow that side of myself to get out, but sometimes it just comes out without my control if I really feel comfortable. But yeah, the comfort only comes out when I really trust someone.
One of my exes definitely cemented it in too. Shaming me for some behaviors 💀 Then, another ex praised my silliness, so it helped me come out of my shell a bit more. Nowadays I feel like I let out just enough to be a “fun, chill guy”.
Sorry to hear about that cutesy shit comment. That really sucks. If it wasn’t his thing, that’s fine, but to bring you down for it is just a fuckin asshole move. (I’m a proud user of the :3 face lol, it just represents that cheeky cute emotion perfectly)
Glad to hear you have good connections. That’s really what life is about I think. Building connections with others and building yourself up (knowledge, hobbies, wisdom, etc)
I do have my few IRL friends too. 2 really long term ones that have never failed me, another couple stray friends from jobs I’ve had, and most recently a group of musician friends I met last year. It’s the kind of “guy friendgroup” connection I’d been lacking for many years, and they’re all just as weird and hyper-knowledgable in their respective special interests lol. I just love people like that!
I’ve never had that sort of bro-y guy group, but it’s also not something I long for…I’m glad you’ve got it, though! It seems super valuable to those who want it. I just can’t watch football. Lmao
Yeah, it’s less like football bro-y and more like send each other memes and play video games and make music together:)
That sound amazing!