First, let me admit that I have social anxiety. I'm really good at faking it because if I feel comfortable enough I become very talkative. At the end of the day, though, I am an introvert and I don't like to think about work when I am off. If I do, I ruminate on all the things I said to people and dwell on how dumb or annoying they probably think I am.

My job involves a lot of talking and connecting to people. My coworkers, thus, tend to be equally as social. However, a lot of the people I work with have personalities that just don't click with mine and I understand that. We have different motivations, values, etc. It wouldn't matter if it didn't constantly feel like I have to become BFFs with everyone I work with.

My job makes it easy for coworkers to be casual with one another and it becomes awkward when I try to maintain a strictly professional relationship, especially since I would never try to be anything more than acquaintances with some of these people ie. I would never becomes friends with them outside of work.

In essence, if I try to stay professional (aka keep my private life, politics, and other sensitive topics to myself) I'm made out to be a buzzkill or "rude". Is it wrong to want some things separate from work?

I do my best to get along with people, but, no, I don't feel comfortable when you act like you know me when I've literally never told you anything about myself. Most of them come off so strong with their sociality. I'm trying harder to set boundaries for myself because I am a hardcore people-pleaser, but I'm worried that everyone thinks I'm a judgmental jerk just because I choose not be vulnerable about my personal issues at work with people I don't click with.

I can understand if some of them simply want to become friends, but I get to know my coworkers a little more than I want to and I know that we would not get along if we entered a closer relationship. I'm not against becoming friends with coworkers, it's just all the ones that are a little too open about their lives are people I don't want to be friends with. Like I said before, we frankly have fundamentally different values and I don't respect some of them and they wouldn't respect me, so I'm not going to pretend that we should become BFFs. I just want to carry on professionally without any conflict and do our jobs. And our jobs do not require us to become friends.

Please don't mistake me for an antisocial cynic who doesn't want to interact with anyone. I enjoy meeting new people and can carry a conversation just fine. I have just found myself in a job where my coworkers take socializing with one another to an excessive degree. Am I crazy to just want to stay professional at work?