Do you know where we can discuss our pte issues and seek advice?

I have some social issues?

• I used to be a class clown but then I had a rough childhood for the past 5 years, im 15 now, almost 16, and since I was 10 when my life started getting rough i distanced myself from everyone and became an anti social and a very hard person who isn't quite friendly. I was fine with who I was becoming because I hated the world but now I want a second chance at happiness and I really want to be a more friendly outgoing person again. I lost my sense of humor and social interest. I feel lonely and want to change myself for the better for my own sake. Can you give me any advice on how to give more of a happy aura or at least actually cheer up and take things a little more lightly? I'm sick of being alone and unhappy with everything. I want to become a sociable person again who people seek to be friends with. Recently the advice I have found was this: - Be yourself - Think positive. Don't down on yourself. Think about the present. - Develop an interest in people. Right now I'm the kind of guy who doesn't like sports, i gave it a try, it bores me even though my dad was athletic and I go to the gym and am kinda fit but I prefer video games and anime, so I don't think I'm going to be joining any teams or sports clubs etc. All the people that I know at my school that have the same interests as me are really immature and annoy the crap out of me, so I don't really like talking to them. The only people who I seek to become friends with are people with complete different interests than me and I can't relate or start conversations and I am a league away from being friends with anyone too popular, so my options are already limited socially at my school. So being my self is a problem. Next is thinking positive. I am trying to do this but this is a lot harder than you could imagine. I am not depressed, I never think about suicide or anything, I'm passed that. I just don't ever seem happy, the best I've gotten is being content. I seem content with things and cannot express joy about much things, I might be mildly depressed. The next problem is that I just am not. I can't seem to find an interest in people that are so unlike me. I read Huffington post, like anime, and play a ton of video games. The amount of people that are like me at my age are very small (or at least at my school). I feel so different all the time. I grew up quick, was raised wrong, and feel like a degenerate around all these happy people in my school. I go to a private Jewish school, while on top of that I am an Atheist. I have become the polar opposite of all these carefree kids who don't have a care in the world. On top of that I think I have some intimacy issues. I think it's because I've been hurt so I wall myself off incase I might get hurt again. I am the smallest child and have 2 older sisters and a mom who is a recovering alcoholic. My sisters used to team up on me when I was a kid and make fun of me all the time but my dad died everything caved in and I downed on myself until I became really depressed and I hated my sisters for how they used to treat me and didn't forgive them when I needed them the most. My mom became an alcoholic after my dad died and my sisters became really close. They tried to let me in and get to know me after they noticed I wasn't myself anymore but it was too late. I hated the world. I hated my sisters, I hated my mom, I hated the world for taking my dad from me and I soon became to hate myself for being so fragile. That's my life story. I'm better than I used to be but I want to fully recover and I want some advice. If you read this far I thank you for your time, I didn't think it was going to be this long when I started writing this.

• Answer:

  Your head is screwed on just right after reading all that. Don't worry about things at your age, happiness doesn't always happen when we want it, sometimes we have to create it by doing the things we enjoy doing and sharing with others. Can you tutor a younger child? Can you volunteer somewhere? Put a smile on your face and give it time and people will approach you. I'm glad you're turning your life around, you've got some smarts, just relax a little and go with the flow. You'll be surprised at what happens! Good Luck!