Has anyone else here ever had to deal with being a "late bloomer".

I am, and it really sucks. My whole life (literally) I've had VERY little interest in socializing. I was always the kid with one good friend, and a few others I'd hang out with from time to time. Didn't care much for parties or meeting new people, and I stayed in at home almost every night. Now, about a year ago (when I was 20) I all of sudden got the need to socialize. Why then, I have no idea, but it really sucks since I've spent such an insanely long time being mostly isolated and talking to very few people that I've been having trouble diving into it all. I've joined a few clubs and stuff, and I'm confident that eventually I can get over this and lead at least a somewhat normal social life, but getting starting has been incredibly difficult (and I can't even imagine getting a girlfriend anytime soon, I feel like I need to improve so many things before I can even think about that). And the worst part is that humans are creatures of habit; we fall into routines, and for most of us it is very difficult to change that. I've fallen into the habit of staying at home and never socializing, so that's what I naturally fall into unless I force myself to get out there and do something. And even though I'm getting better at doing that, I still spend so much time at home, and before I would occupy my time with stuff like video games, books, TV, movies... but now I have very little interest in any of that stuff, all I want to do is meet people (especially girls), but it just isn't that easy for me like it is for most people. So before I really didn't care or think about this stuff, but now since I don't enjoy those things as much I just feel incredibly bored so much of the time. And really, I think it wouldn't be nearly as bad, except I feel like I wasn't being young. While everyone was out partying and getting laid, I was at home in my own little world.

 

my best partying and most fun was had in my early 20s...you didnt miss out on much, and you have lots of time to make up for it if you feel like you did....

no worries, just have fun now and live your life the way you want to...dont gauge your "development" by anyone or everyone elses...live on your terms, on your own clock

 

i didn't socialize much when i was growing up either. then i went to college and lived in a dorm for one year, and the party apartment the next year. it was fun while it lasted, but i really don't want to socialize ever again after those 2 years.

 

break the routine as quickly as possible

it only gets worse

 

I was more social when in my early teens. Once I was in University I was not as I really did not have the time or energy to do so.

I started being more social again once I was done with school, so that was at 24. I am not sure if I really missed all that much. I guess if I did, I will never know.