Hi everyone! I’m new here and would just like some advice. My anxiety stems from my step father yelling at me constantly as a child. My mom used to step in and get mad at him for yelling at me, but there were days where I’d literally walk in the door from elementary school and get yelled at for no reason. I’m now afraid of people getting mad at me or yelling at me, which I know is a part of life but it the thought gives me severe anxiety. We later found out he has bipolar disorder. Lately I’ve been having these daily thoughts of “everyone hates me, and “I have a feeling people always talk crap about me when I’m not there.” I think it stems from being called annoying every now and then in high school. The thing is I have no friends and I’ve always had trouble making them. I do actively seek out friendships and even initiate wanting to hang out or plan lunches but I myself never get invited to anything or get asked to hang out. I just always wonder what I do wrong. I generally think of myself as a pretty friendly person and try to be optimistic but these things get to me. What would you recommend me do? I do take buspirone, but not daily. It doesn’t seem to help me much.