You know when you're told by an annoying parent to just go outside and make friends. I went on a semi-religious trip with a bunch of people age 16-21 when I 18. I had severe social anxiety after having gone to a new school and not being allowed in for the first three month due to the delights of ablism. So I had 0 friends.
I went on this trip with my sister though we were split for some activities as I was with the 18+ lot. I didn't make any great friends but there were rules like you had to sit with different people at dinner every night and I got to go to a quiet version of a club with people I trusted.
It was weird. I sort of figured out socialising and because it had my sister and her friends I didn't feel completely lost. But I could also be myself and learnt small talk by helping the sick but also meeting the other 18+ people on these nights out.
When I went back to school (I am a couple of years behind) I used these skills to make friends. Friends in which I still have now. I have continuously made friends.
It is still weird. I went to therapy before and after. The therapist thought she had cured me of this (which I let her believe).
I currently go to therapy for other problems including anxiety but I just so surprised at how much this little trip helped me.
Any thought on why this helped me would be grateful to hear your opinion.