I'm in my 40's. In my early 20's I naively thought that I would eventually grow out of it as everyone had suggested. Then I saw shrinks and took medications, none of which worked. I became suicidal, but thought I had to keep trying. In my early 30's I realized this wasn't going away anytime soon and had to just get on with it. I made a fairly good career choice, one that catered to the loner types. Now in my 40's, I'm financially ok, but still single with no kids. Relationships never lasted because I've been keeping people at bay my entire life. I've always had a hard time letting people in.
I've read several posts in this forum saying there's nothing wrong with being shy and introverted, I beg to differ.
I probably won't beat this completely, but rather I have to keep learning new coping skills. At this point, I have to acknowlege I have a problem, and decisions of what I do throughout my life have to be made with that in mind.
Am I depressed? I'm more frustrated than anything. My siblings are extroverted, financially well off and very happy. I have the looks and smarts to have done most anything if it wasn't for this condition.
So what keeps me going? The thought that I can still eventually beat this thing. If I never do, at least I can tell myself that I've always tried and NEVER gave up.