Some people ask me if it ever gets lonely not having any friends. The answer, much to their surprise, is Yes. It's a surprise because people can't understand why someone would choose to be lonely, when they could instead make acquaintances to invite into their lives.

It's more complicated than that, though. I have to make a bitter-sweet choice day in and day out: Between loneliness, and anxiety. With people, comes unpredictability, and with unpredictability comes anxiety. [At least, for those of us struggling with this certain types of anxiety disorders, anyway.]

I can handle being lonely. But I can't handle being anxious. Or perhaps more accurately, other people can't handle my anxiety.

So really, the choice is already made for me.