Why am I always uncomfortable around people?

Others are going to address the person to person stuff, so I'll take a different direction. It sounds like you have a lot going for you in areas other than human interaction. It also sounds like you're not fully engaging this. You got the nice job, but in your time off, you zone yourself out to TV and weed. You've got brains, talent, money. But instead of going all Tony Stark and applying those things to things that interest you, instead at the end of the week you've done... nothing. Spend less time doing nothing / living vicariously. Work on making something that has never been made before, something that stimulates you. This is something you can happily do alone, but over the long term, your projects will likely also bring you in contact with people who are more like you, and more interested in things that you do find stimulating. (Having a passion will also make you more attractive as a date.)

I'm considering therapy and medication again, but I absolutely detest the idea of having to take a pill everyday to feel 'normal.' You're using weed every day and it makes you feel awful; why not take something every day that makes you feel good? I wouldn't get too wrapped up right now in thinking about the "rest of your life"; take things one step at a time. Try out therapy, and some medication if the doctor suggests it, and see how things go for awhile. The voices telling you you'll always feel bad and there's no point to feeling good even for a little while are a part of the problem; don't give them power to make your decisions for you. Good luck dear!

I honestly don't think the problem is that you intimidate other people because you're taller than average or better dressed than average or handsomer than average or whatever, though all of those things may well be true. You sound like you aren't a good listener or conversationalist, perhaps in part because of your mood and anxiety issues, but also because you just don't seem interested in other people. Agree with -harlequin- that finding something more active and engaging to do in your spare time might help you connect more with people.

You have social anxiety. The only way to fix it is to attack it, through empowering yourself with knowledge, medication and therapy or at least self-therapy through reading. I am quite sure, because you basically described me when you described yourself. The reason weed and alcohol seem effective and meds do not is that weed and alcohol are potent short term solutions and meds are subtle long term solutions. You can get along for awhile that way, it's true. But that depends on your level of use. Frequent alcohol use to curb anxiety is a blast for a short while and then it is a quick, businesslike detour to depression. It is a depressant, that's what it does in the long term. Weed can be a godsend, but usually only at first if your intake escalates. There comes a point when you realize its limitations. I didn't write an askme when I felt like you do, but I was constantly asking myself the same questions, raising my fists to the heavens and asking, really raging in my mind against everything and everyone because I was so upset and lost and unable to understand what to do about it. In hindsight I can see that I was really only asking two very simple questions, and ultimately so are you: 1. Do I have to feel this way? No. No you do not. 2. Am I really going to have to break myself down, fully come to terms with my fears, struggle against all the (understandable, yet) unhealthy coping mechanisms I have foolishly reinforced my whole life, am I going to have to constantly monitor my emotions and have discipline enough to keep moving forward in the face of failure, and a million other things that scared the shit out of me? Yes, yes you are. That's the score. The unfortunate chemical unbalances in your brain are not your fault, not in any way. But even if every person who lived in your city's number one priority was fixing that for you they would still fail, because its not their problem to fix. The answer to #2 is scary because it means you have to step outside of yourself and search and open up in ways that make you uncomfortable, true. But it sounds like staying inside yourself is currently not satisfying, otherwise you wouldn't have asked this question. You can't start too soon. Lose your fetters and you may be shocked to find that you really are the person you always wished you could be but were unable to find.

Go to answer for sure it professional help, go see a therapist. But I'd like to also say one thing that helped me was setting a goal, a list of features I want to have and then a plan to pursue them. So I want to be a good conversationalist, w special interest in politics and experience triathlons. I cut out a lot of the "dead, wasted" time in my life like playing video games and smoking and redirected my time and energy trying to reach my goals. I think this strategy may also work for you?

CAN you get off the weed? For a week, a month, several months? There are a lot of people who tend to become very passive when they frequently use the weed. I second Ghostride. People who are engaged with life are interesting to talk to. People who are interested in other people (or who feign interest well) have good conversations. Once you get to know someone, they become more interesting to you rather than less. I find that most people who don't know me very well have a lot of trouble knowing what to say to me You're not interested in what people have to say, and I'm sure they pick up on it, so it's understandable that they would have trouble knowing what to say to you. You have to meet someone halfway.

My first thought is, rather than seeking comfort, you might want to practice becoming comfortable with ambiguity, because we are all surrounded by ambiguity. The one thing smoking weed seems to do for people is let them predict how they're going to feel after smoking it. That's why it helps with anxiety. (for me, I get that predictability by watching tv -- because the stories are predictable). Find a way to be curious about what's going to happen next and stop thinking that you need to feel completely comfortable. I think discomfort can be your friend.

Consider going back to therapy, cutting the weed, and trying antidepressants again. It sounds like weed is making things worse - plus it sounds like you're using it to avoid relating to people and doing more interesting things. However, if you want to be happier/more content/more engaged in other people's lives, taking antidepressants is something that has been successful for many, many people. Yes, the idea of taking a pill every day for the rest of your life can be intimidating, but would you tell your diabetic friend to wean himself off insulin? Depression is a physical condition, and if an antidepressant is helping, then you use it. Maybe you won't always need to use it, but maybe you will. Either way is fine. And plenty of people have to try different kinds before finding the kind that works. Next, you aren't interested in people, but want to be? Do it. When someone starts telling you about the funny thing her cat did, or the movie he saw, think to yourself, what makes this interesting to this person? Could I empathize with what this person is telling me? Fake it till you make it. There is something to be said about pretending to be the person you want to be until you actually are that person.

Join http://www.toastmasters.org/ or a similar group where you practice speaking in front of a group. You will learn how to present your ideas and hold the interest of the listeners, all skill that easily translate to non-public speaking. Do try some volunteer work, even if you are not interested. Going through the motions should get you out of your rut.