For me personally it's like having to adapt all the time almost as if you're a different person depending on the situation, maybe with your friends you can be your more relaxed goofy self but around family or in public situations you want to be that fun person but their locked inside behind a mental barrier and you clam up and can't really speak much or interact normally in social situations despite desperately wanting to be your "true self".

This only becomes harder when it comes to discussions about things like finding work as obviously work is full of social situations that can lead to things like panic attacks or extreme stress and anxiety or when family talks about you trying to meet someone or trying to start a family some day, you just don't want too because you feel it's unfair to burden someone else with your problems.

Then you have the few times you have actually tried to go out of your way meet people you got lead on by them for weeks at a time only to the constantly stood up or told they were no longer interested and you think things such as why didn't they just say that in the beginning or sooner instead of stringing you along for weeks just to smash your hopes, when this happens to you over and over again it really kills any ambition about your self worth to try and find someone in those moments when your convince yourself that your not meant to be alone.

I have only recently been diagnosed but I have had these issues for as long as I can remember so helpfully the help I am receiving now can help me cope better.