Anyone with the time, please give me some advice! I can't take this.?

Question

I am extremely shy.
I have no friends.
I spend lunch in the bathroom stall or sometimes I go off campus and walk around the neighborhoods near the school.
Most days in class, I'll go the entire period without saying anything.
this is not my personality, therefor I cannot just accept being this person.
I used to be very outgoing and had a ton of friends.
I became depressed and isolated myself from other people. I pushed all of my friends away, some of them moved.
Now I've just forgotten how to use my voice.
PLEASE, can ANYONE give me advice on how to break out of my shell and be more outgoing???
I'm a sophmore in high school, I really don't want to waste the whole high school experience. I was like this last year.
I really appreciate it!!!!!!!

professional help costs money.
I'm 15.
I don't have a job.
that's not an option.

it doesn't matter what's the cause of my depression. I've gotten through that, now I'm trying to figure this out.

I'm worried because I feel like this has changed me forever. I have got to do something before it takes over....completley.

Answer 1

high-school is overrated anyway.. trust me on that one. But more to the point.. place yourself out of your element.. you've become a recluse in your school.. and it's going to be hard for you to break that shell and stigma in one blow... so I'd start by maybe signing up for a summer camp, or whatever.. just something where you don't know anybody... but no one there knows anybody else either... so you can be whoever you want to be with no repercussions.


Just a thought.

Answer 2

You don't say what caused the depression?
You say that you isolated yourself after you became depressed, so that seems to be the cause of your change in behaviour!
The answer is to get to the bottom of your depression, the cause or trigger of it, then the solution to your depression will undoubtedly be the solution to your isolation!
I also suffer with depression, and I'm on tablets for it!
When I'm low, I isolate myself from the world, but when I'm normal, I'm quite sociable!
You could get over your depression completely, but even if you don't, there are many ways of controlling it!
You need to see your doctor, and tell him/her how you've been feeling. He/she will treat whatever you say with the strictest confidence, and will be able to offer you councelling, and/or medication, whatever is appropriate for you!
There are also other things that can help, such as diet, exercise, aromatherapy, etc.
Find someone you can talk to, a teacher, doctor, councellor or social worker, all of which have to keep what you say confidential!
Join some clubs and activities that you enjoy, and in a new and different environment you will start to come out of yourself more!
When you improve your socials skills and confidence, you'll feel better about trying to re-establish yourself at school! After all, there's a lot for your age group to enjoy, and school is only one of those things!
I hope this helps!

Answer 3

maybe something dramatic happened to you.
i suggest reading the novel speak by laurie hendel, if you haven't already. it does take time, but i would start by talking to myself in the mirror. just talk a little ask yourself how your days been going, it will get you used to talking to someone again. close your eyes if it makes it less awkward. then you want to call your friends up or find a time when you can just talk to them and tell them you've been having a rough time. if they don't understand, just find new friends. its not that hard and all you have to do is ask an acquaintance to eat with them at lunch or what not. i'm in highschool too, and if i knew someone who was going through the same thing you are, i'd gladly help them. just take it easy and feel comfortable with yourself.

Answer 4

This is your life and you are in almost total control here. Just like you said you pushed all your friends away it is up to you to make new friends and become something other that what you percieve yourself to be. The change will be wierd to those around you but they will adjust to the new you if you want to be another person.

Answer 5

Step 1: Stop looking to Yahoo Answers to change your life. Go see a counselor.

Answer 6

just start out talking to one or two people in a class, make friends with them get comfortable with them/yourself and just keep doing the same thing in all your classes. it'll take time but what've you got to loose. dont expect it to happen all in one day.