Do I Have Social Anxiety Disorder?

I know it's hard to believe people when they say I know how you feel, but I really do know how you feel. I have felt the same way since I was about your age, and I am now 20 years old. I would always face the same problem when my friends asked me to hang out. If I did go, it was not fun - I felt awkward & like I was just wasting my friend's time. If I didn't go, I regretted not going & I hated being in the house all the time. It got to the point where I would not leave the house for months at a time, and I would lie just to avoid everyone. Well it's been like 7 years since I started doing this, and you know what? It took me those 7 years to realize that you can only put things off for so long. Today, you will avoid going to the movies or a party with your friends, but soon you will start to avoid any interaction at all. I told myself I would face my fear when I was your age. Now I'm a Junior in college and I still have yet to do so. What's worse is knowing that you spent your whole life settling, when you could have had so much more. I know it doesn't seem like it now but trust me, you are a beautiful person who deserves so much more than sitting at home because you're scared of what would happen if you try. I know it's hard at first, but once you start hanging out with your friends the awkward feelings will slowly but surely start to go away, and you will be able to be yourself again, and I'm sure your friends will LOVE you, and they won't care what you're wearing or if you say something stupid. Some of my best memories are from when I did push myself to go out with my friends, and things were scary at first but then I started to have fun. Please don't make the same mistake I did of avoiding everything - you are worth so much more & I'm sure if you go out with them your friends will remember how wonderful you are. I cannot tell you how many times I wish I could go back & change the decisions that I've made. You can always email me if you ever need someone to talk to. Best of luck sweetie :)